Central Europe

GUEST EDITORS

Mtro. Pablo Lozano Lozano, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

Dr. Gabriela A. Mata Sánchez, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Daniel Javier de la Garza Montemayor, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

SPECIAL EDITION TITLE:

Central Europe: Challenges and Opportunities for Mexico

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

For decades, Mexican political and trade relations have been concentrated in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. This concentration has not prevented the search of opportunities and the diversification of Mexican international relations.

One of the regions with the greatest potential for the expansion of Mexico's relations in the international system has been the European Union (EU). This is a bloc with which Mexico maintains a strong identity of values and strong historical roots. Mexico was the first Latin American country to establish an Economic Partnership Agreement, Political Concertation and Cooperation Agreement. Later in April 2020, the process of re-negotiation of a new agreement started, which will modernize Mexico's trade relationship with European countries and include areas that promote cooperation on issues such as climate change and human rights, the fight against corruption and poverty, and joint investigation into new medicines.

In strategic terms, the European Union is very important for Mexico. In addition of being an actor with strong positioning in the international system, especially in the various UN forums, it is also fundamental in the context of Mexico's presence in the world. Indeed, the EU is Mexico’s third trading partner and, of total Mexicans abroad, about 36% live in this region, according to data from the 2017 Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IMA).

Mexico's relations with the European Union countries have been specially concentrated, for historical and economic reasons. In terms of trade, Germany is Mexico's main trading partner. Most trade relations are also concentrated in Spain, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and, to a lesser extent, France and Italy. On the other hand, in terms of investments, the Netherlands and Spain are by far the main European investors in Mexico, followed by Germany and Belgium. In terms of tourism, Spain, France and Germany concentrate most of the tourism to Mexico among the nations of the European Union.

Therefore, ideas of concentration and diversification are also applied to Mexico's relations with the countries of the European Union, taking into account not only the most relevant indicators, but the fact that in the imagination of Mexicans - whether we talk about companies, decision makers, students or tourists - Europe's mere concept is limited to a small group of countries that includes Spain, Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom (already in the process of leaving the EU), as well as the Netherlands, excluding the rest.

These highlights that can be explored are the greater diversification opportunities for Mexico in Europe that may derive from the newly renewed agreement even beyond trade relations. Taking into account that the European Union has 27 member countries, the present issue of the Politics, Globality and Citizenship Journal seeks to provide knowledge that contributes to the finding of alternatives that help expand Mexican international relations towards the countries of Central Europe.

Objective

Promote the analysis and discussion of the political, economic, social and cultural challenges and opportunities that exist in the goal of strengthening the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the countries of Central Europe.

Lines of Research

Mexico and the notion of Central Europe in the context of the relations with the European Union.
Mexico-Central Europe Foreign Policy: History and current affairs.
Renegotiation of the Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and the European Union and its implications for the Mexico-Central Europe relationship.
Bilateral and economic relations between Mexico and Central Europe as a diversification strategy.
Cultural and cooperative ties between Mexico and Central Europe.

Countries:

Alemania, Austria, Croacia, Eslovaquia, Eslovenia, Estonia, Hungría, Letonia, Liechtenstein, Lituania, Luxemburgo, Polonia, República Checa, Rumania, Suiza.

Types of articles accepted

The authors can apply to Politics, Globality and Citizenship the submission of two types of articles: Original results of scientific and research projects, and review articles.

Scientific and research articles: Documents that present in a detailed way the original results of completed research projects. The structure contains title, summary, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, conclusions and references. You must submit 30 references, preferably, citing other articles from scientific journals, which must be cited within the document. A scientific paper is a written and published report that describes original results of an investigation.

Review Articles: Documents resulting from research that analyze, systematize and integrate the findings of published or unpublished research on a specific subject in order to account for emerging trends. It is characterized by a careful bibliographic review of at least 50 references.

Instructions and Submission of proposals

Articles may be written in Spanish and/or English and will be reviewed following the peer evaluation process.

Articles will be delivered through the following emails: revista.politicas@uanl.mx/ revistapoliticas.uanl@gmail.com

No other means of delivery will be accepted. Each e-mail should have the Special Edition Title on Subject.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Startdate for the article’s submission: July 1, 2020