Contemporary Mexico, our last phase of Mexican history, remains a work in prog-
ress. Huge oil and natural gas reserves, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and hun-
dreds of maquiladora factories have made Mexico a major economic force. In
addition, with the 1994 passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), Mexico, the United States, and Canada became free trade partners.
Although the passage of time and the implementation of economic agreements have
improved relations between the governments of Mexico and the United States, there
are still critical issues that require effective intercultural interaction. These include
border security, drug trafficking, the movement of guns from the United States to
Mexico, and, perhaps the most contentious of all, illegal immigrants.Contemporary Social Issues
Today, Mexico is struggling with a numberof social issues, but two primary causes
underlie many of the problems. First, poverty and unemployment, especially in the
rural areas, continue to suppress the standard of living for large numbers of
Mexicans, with nearly half of the population living below the poverty level.^140
Lacking jobs, many elect to leave their homes in the countryside and relocate to
one of the urban centers. Others seek work in the United States as illegal immi-
grants. Those in the United States often settle for a meager existence in order to
send a significant portion of their wages to their families in Mexico. In 2012
Mexican immigrants remitted approximately 22 billion dollars to Mexico, most of
it coming from the United States.^141 The lengthy separations between the working
immigrants in the United States and their loved ones in Mexico impose consider-
able strain on families and carry the potential of eroding the traditional Mexican
family structure.
Directly tied to poverty and unemployment is the continuing problem of drug-
related crime and violence. Since 2006, Mexico’s ongoing drug war has taken the
lives of some 60,000 people. In 2013 alone, the government spent $172.7 billion on
the war, nearly one-tenth of the country’s GDP. In addition to the drug violence,
kidnappings and extortion have become common. The situation has led to a militari-
zation of civil society, where corruption permeates even social organizations, includ-
ing political and law enforcement institutions.^142
The escalating violence, coupled with growing evidence of widespread corruption of
government agencies by the cartels, has seriously eroded public confidence. The effec-
tiveness of law enforcement agencies and the legal system to provide law enforcement
and public protection has become questionable. This has created a general sense of
insecurity and disillusionment at all levels of society, leaving the people to rely on
their extended families or local community for support and security. This has produced
a growing vigilante movement where local citizens are taking up arms and assuming
security responsibilities.^143 Collectively, these events have placed increasing pressure
on the traditional Mexican culture once dominated by family and the church.
Of course, Mexico also confronts myriad environmental pollution problems, as is
common in almost every developing country. Although major improvements have
been made over the past decade, air pollution remains a problem in the industrialized
cities, especially Mexico City. Additionally, deforestation, desertification, erosion,
polluted rivers, and declining clean water sources threaten Mexico’s environment
and its people.^144188 CHAPTER 5•Cultural History: Precursor to the Present and Future
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