Foreign Policy as Domestic Policy: Peaceful Resolution of Socio-Environmental Conflicts in Northwest Mexico

Abstract

The objective is to explore and discuss the potential of some principles of Mexico's foreign policy to serve as the foundation and anchor for a domestic policy based on building a culture of peace as a state policy that facilitates the peaceful management of socio-environmental conflicts in the country. To this end, an analysis and discussion are proposed based on a methodology centered on the theoretical framework of peace studies, human rights, and environmental and water justice from a perspective focused on the northwest region of the country. The results point to the expansion and deepening of socio-environmental conflicts in the studied region, which constitute an enormous social challenge, although they also offer the possibility of building institutions and public policies based on a culture of peace and peaceful conflict management. The paper concludes by proposing alternatives for incorporating these principles across the public policies of the three branches and levels of government in Mexico.