Estrada Doctrine
Encyclopedia
The Estrada Doctrine is the name of Mexico
's core foreign policy
ideal from 1930 to the early 2000s. Its name derives from Genaro Estrada
, Secretary of Foreign Affairs
during the presidency of Pascual Ortiz Rubio
(1930-1932).
The doctrine was the most influential and representative instrument in the country's foreign policy for seventy years, it claims that foreign governments should not judge, positively or negatively, the governments or changes in government of other nations, in that such action would imply a breach to their sovereignty
. This policy was said to be based on the principles of non-intervention, peaceful resolution of disputes
and self-determination of all nations
.
. A significant event considering that it hadn't been invited since the creation of the inter-governmental organization once the First World War ended, which can be mainly attributed to some then-unsolved problems between Mexico and the United States
. In the heart of the forum, Mexico established its position in favor of the international law
and the principles of non-intervention and self-determination
. The Mexican government always supported the peaceful resolution of disputes
, and rejected the use of force in international relations
. All of this gave the country a major international prestige. As for its southern neighbors in Latin America
and the Caribbean
, Mexico returned to the International Conference of American States, where it had been previously excluded due to lack of recognition from the U.S. The country gained an outstanding prestige in the conferences that took place in Havana
(1928) and Montevideo
(1933), whose posture was in favor of the Latin American union and international law.
During this period, Mexico had the opportunity to spread its position towards the international practice of recognition. Which is known as the Estrada Doctrine, the then-Secretary of Foreign Affairs
, Genaro Estrada
, pointed out on September 27, 1930 that:
governments in other countries, Mexico is not in favor of giving recognition because it is considered a degrading practice. By hurting the sovereignty
of other nations, it puts them in a vulnerable position because their internal affairs can be judged by other governments, that in fact assume a critical attitude when deciding about the legality and legitimacy of foreign governments. Hence Mexico was itself hurt because of the practice, as it was difficult to obtain recognition of its independence
. The most extended use of the Estrada Doctrine was in the 1970s, when Mexico did not withdraw its recognition of any South American government which was formed through a coup d'état
, the only measure Mexico could use against such governments was withdrawing its diplomatic mission
.
In other words, the Estrada Doctrine claims that Mexico should not judge, positively or negatively, the governments or changes in government of other nations, in that such action would imply a breach to their sovereignty
. In addition, this doctrine is based on the universally recognized principles of self-determination
and non-intervention, which are considered essential for mutual respect and cooperation
amongst nations.
(2000-2006), both Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Jorge Castañeda and Luis Ernesto Derbez
, tried to discontinue this Doctrine. The result is called the Castañeda Doctrine
, but the doctrine became effectively discontinued under President Felipe Calderón
.
" in the presence of governments categorized as dictatorship
s.
Jorge Castañeda
, who would later serve a two-year term as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs
during the Fox Administration
, criticized Mexico's foreign policy in 1987. He stated that:
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's core foreign policy
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
ideal from 1930 to the early 2000s. Its name derives from Genaro Estrada
Genaro Estrada
Genaro Estrada was a Mexican statesman, academic, and writer.Estrada was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. He served as a journalist in Mazatlán early in life, then moved to Mexico City in 1912, where he was professor at the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria and entered the capital's cultural and political...
, Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Mexico)
In Mexico, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is a member of the federal executive cabinet with responsibility for implementing the country's foreign policy. The secretary is appointed by the President of the Republic and heads the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs ...
during the presidency of Pascual Ortiz Rubio
Pascual Ortiz Rubio
Pascual Ortiz Rubio was a Mexican politician. He was born in Morelia, Michoacán as the son of Pascual Ortiz de Ayala y Huerta and Lenor Rubio Cornelis...
(1930-1932).
The doctrine was the most influential and representative instrument in the country's foreign policy for seventy years, it claims that foreign governments should not judge, positively or negatively, the governments or changes in government of other nations, in that such action would imply a breach to their sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
. This policy was said to be based on the principles of non-intervention, peaceful resolution of disputes
Dispute resolution
Dispute resolution is the process of resolving disputes between parties.-Methods:Methods of dispute resolution include:* lawsuits * arbitration* collaborative law* mediation* conciliation* many types of negotiation* facilitation...
and self-determination of all nations
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
.
Background
On September 12, 1931 Mexico was admitted to the League of NationsLeague of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. A significant event considering that it hadn't been invited since the creation of the inter-governmental organization once the First World War ended, which can be mainly attributed to some then-unsolved problems between Mexico and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the heart of the forum, Mexico established its position in favor of the international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and the principles of non-intervention and self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
. The Mexican government always supported the peaceful resolution of disputes
Dispute resolution
Dispute resolution is the process of resolving disputes between parties.-Methods:Methods of dispute resolution include:* lawsuits * arbitration* collaborative law* mediation* conciliation* many types of negotiation* facilitation...
, and rejected the use of force in international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
. All of this gave the country a major international prestige. As for its southern neighbors in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, Mexico returned to the International Conference of American States, where it had been previously excluded due to lack of recognition from the U.S. The country gained an outstanding prestige in the conferences that took place in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
(1928) and Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
(1933), whose posture was in favor of the Latin American union and international law.
During this period, Mexico had the opportunity to spread its position towards the international practice of recognition. Which is known as the Estrada Doctrine, the then-Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Mexico)
In Mexico, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is a member of the federal executive cabinet with responsibility for implementing the country's foreign policy. The secretary is appointed by the President of the Republic and heads the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs ...
, Genaro Estrada
Genaro Estrada
Genaro Estrada was a Mexican statesman, academic, and writer.Estrada was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. He served as a journalist in Mazatlán early in life, then moved to Mexico City in 1912, where he was professor at the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria and entered the capital's cultural and political...
, pointed out on September 27, 1930 that:
Content
The Estrada Doctrine suggests that under the establishment of de factoDe facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
governments in other countries, Mexico is not in favor of giving recognition because it is considered a degrading practice. By hurting the sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
of other nations, it puts them in a vulnerable position because their internal affairs can be judged by other governments, that in fact assume a critical attitude when deciding about the legality and legitimacy of foreign governments. Hence Mexico was itself hurt because of the practice, as it was difficult to obtain recognition of its independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
. The most extended use of the Estrada Doctrine was in the 1970s, when Mexico did not withdraw its recognition of any South American government which was formed through a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
, the only measure Mexico could use against such governments was withdrawing its diplomatic mission
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
.
In other words, the Estrada Doctrine claims that Mexico should not judge, positively or negatively, the governments or changes in government of other nations, in that such action would imply a breach to their sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
. In addition, this doctrine is based on the universally recognized principles of self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
and non-intervention, which are considered essential for mutual respect and cooperation
Internationalism (politics)
Internationalism is a political movement which advocates a greater economic and political cooperation among nations for the theoretical benefit of all...
amongst nations.
Current status
During the Fox AdministrationVicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
(2000-2006), both Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Jorge Castañeda and Luis Ernesto Derbez
Luis Ernesto Derbez
Luis Ernesto Derbez Bautista is a Mexican politician and current rector of the Universidad de Las Américas.Upon assuming power in December 2000, President Vicente Fox chose him to serve as his Secretary of Economy...
, tried to discontinue this Doctrine. The result is called the Castañeda Doctrine
Castañeda Doctrine
The Castañeda Doctrine is a term used as reference to Mexico's foreign policy during the presidency of Vicente Fox. Its name derives from Jorge G. Castañeda, proponent of the policy....
, but the doctrine became effectively discontinued under President Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
.
Criticism
Most of the critics of the doctrine were directed toward whether it was morally and politically valid or not that the Mexican government stayed "neutralNeutrality (international relations)
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
" in the presence of governments categorized as dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
s.
Jorge Castañeda
Jorge Castañeda
Jorge Castañeda Gutman is a Mexican politician and academic who served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs ....
, who would later serve a two-year term as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Mexico)
In Mexico, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is a member of the federal executive cabinet with responsibility for implementing the country's foreign policy. The secretary is appointed by the President of the Republic and heads the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs ...
during the Fox Administration
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
, criticized Mexico's foreign policy in 1987. He stated that:
See also
- Foreign relations of MexicoForeign relations of MexicoThe foreign relations of Mexico are directed by the President of the United Mexican States and managed through the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs...
- Castañeda DoctrineCastañeda DoctrineThe Castañeda Doctrine is a term used as reference to Mexico's foreign policy during the presidency of Vicente Fox. Its name derives from Jorge G. Castañeda, proponent of the policy....