Can North America Integrate? Researchers Cross Borders to Tackle Issues from Economic Development to National Security

February 25, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin and Mexico's leading universities are bringing together top researchers to examine the region's foreign policy issues at the "North America and the Dilemma of Integration" conference Feb. 25-29 in Mexico City.

Five Mexican universities will host the five-day conference: Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, Colegio de México and Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey.

Researchers will tackle topics, such as:

• "U.S. Foreign Policy after George W. Bush"
• "Corporate Elites"
• "Persuasion in Mexico's 2006 Presidential Election Campaign"
• "Barriers to Entry and the Unfolding of NAFTA"
• "Sustainable Development in North America"
• "9/11 and Emerging American Migrant Public Cultures"
• "The Presidential Campaign in the United States as seen from Mexico" and "Will the Latino Vote Matter in this Election?"
• "Terrorism in North America: Fears and Realities" and
• telecommunications, including mobile opportunities and high-speed broadband.

"With the increasing globalization of our economies, the debate and controversy created by a stronger integration, formal or informal, between the United States, Mexico and Canada becomes increasingly important," Terri Givens, vice provost at the university, said. "We hope to promote an open dialogue about the scope and consequences of greater integration, but most importantly, we hope to help bridge the gap that all too frequently separates academic research and the implementation of policies."

For more information, please visit the "North America and the Dilemma of Integration" conference Web site.

For more information, contact: Christian Clarke Casarez, director of international public affairs, 512 232 6241.