World Savvy Monitor

A century ago, Mexican leader Porfirio Díaz is reported to have lamented, “Poor Mexico. So far from God, so close to the United States.”  This often quoted phrase is thought by many to illustrate much of Mexico’s history, as well as today’s reality.  Mexico’s relationship with the US is variably described as one of exploitation, cooperation, or neglect.  Despite its geographic location as part of North America, culturally Mexico is closer to South America.  This gives it a unique position as an integral part of two very different political blocs:  North America and Latin America.  Having a foot in both worlds has often been difficult, complicating both Mexico’s experience of nation-building and its current geopolitical profile.  In this edition of the Monitor we take a deep look both inside Mexico – at its politics, economics, and society – and at Mexico’s international position at the nexus of the Americas at this historical moment.

Sincerely, 

The World Savvy Monitor Team 

The Monitor is a service of World Savvy, an education non-profit with offices in San Francisco, New York, and Minneapolis-St. Paul.  All subscriptions and donations to the Monitor support World Savvy’s work in the public schools.  See worldsavvy.org.  

The July Monitor was written by Cate Biggs, with assistance from Ami Shiess.  The Monitor is edited by Anita Trachte and Laura Neumeister.  The Classroom Companion is written by Kelly Korenak and Linda Chang.  Steff Eiter is our webmaster.  Jenny Singleton oversees production and technical support, and writes the updates.  Charmagne Campbell-Patton and Sara Howard direct outreach.  Edward Wang manages foundation and individual donations.  Dana Curran Mortenson and the World Savvy Board provide program oversight.

Next:  Did You Know?