Voices ofMexico¡Ocrober-Decemher
Anewera
lor
Voices 01 Mexico
Julio Labastida *
Voices ofMe xico was srarted with tlLe aÚ1/
ofproviding Norch American readers "vith
informarion 011 cultural, social alld political
aspects of Mexico, and in particular those whiclz
might c01/tribute to a berter understandillg
bet'rveell our two regio/IS. Tite magazille was
bom of the conviction thar those interested or
potentially interested in Mexico should he hetter
informed, and chac rhe wider disse millation of
kllowledge and mutual a wareness would have a
pos itive effecr 0 11 the re latioll.ship between our
two societies.
Mari Claire A costa, w}w directed the
magazine from the time ir was started, together
with the rest of her team made all illTerk'le effort
to realize this aim. The National Ulliversity of
Mexico wishes to express its f? ra titudefor her
dedication, alldfor the excellent results which
she achieved.
This issue marks lhe beginllinR ofill/portallt
challges in Voices ofMexico, although the
oriRinal ohjeetives ofche IlIaRazine have not
been altered. The aim is ro adapt our material ro
che changing relacionship wich our norchem
neighbors. FirsI, starling with this issue, che
magazine has been ineorporated illCo The
Cellter for Research 011 che United Sta tes. This
challge means that che Coordination of
• Coordinator o f Humanitics .
7
Humanities willllot merely lIlailltain its presel/t
level of involvelllent, but even increase its
interest and support for Voices of Mexico so tliar
it might more fully achieve its goals.
Froll/ 1l0W on Voices of Mexico wil/ be
located in a research center, one of whose lIlain
purposes is ro improve the relatiollship
betweell Mexieo and its northem lIeighbor. SO/1/ e
ofthe researchers at the eellter specialize in the
analysis and developmelll ofthis dialogue.
The links between Mexico, the United States
and Cmwda are going t}¡rouRh a period of
redefillilion and illtell.\;ification. We !leed to
irzcrease the scope ofO/a knowledge afl{i
selk'litivity in regard lO the implicariolls whieh
those ehallges will lLave 011 the econolllie,
cultural, social a lid polilicallife of Mexico. This
is olle oflhe prilleipal tasks for The Cellter for
Research 011 the Ullited States. Likewise, there
should be /llore illfonnatioll ahollt the realities of
Mexico in those coulltries.
The Center f or Researeh on the United
States, in ~pite of its prese/lt fla/lle, has also
developed a progral/l which studies Cmwda,
which undoubtedly will become increasillgly
il/lportant. It has a nucleus ofspecialists wirh the
lIecessary awareness al/d contaets to provide
evell greater alld JIlore effective JIleallS o/
keepillg both our currellt alld potelltial readers
illforll/ed.
8 V oices ofMexico/October-December
We should like to emphasize that the
University is conscious ofthe fact that while our
relationships with our Anglo-Saxon neighbors
are intensifying we should nor weaken our
historical ties wirh Latin America, whose links
with us form a critical part of our national
identity. Furthermore. the University is firm ly
con vinced rhar these ties need ro be strengthened
lo enhance cooperation in cultural, social,
economíc and polítical spheres. To this end.
the University has several programs which are
specifically oriented ro wards Latin America.
In the case ofVoices ofMexico and the
research center where ir is published, chis
awareness takes the form ofthe need to ensure
that the magazine remains receptive to topics
and problems wich we have in common with
other Latin American countries, and which
affect our relationship with countries in the
northern hemisphere.
In the light ofthese objectíves the decision of
our university rector, José Sarukhán, to choose
Hugo B. Margáin as the new director ofthe
magazine was very f ortunate. Hugo B. Margáin 's
intellecrual, professional and diplomatic
background make him an expert not only on
Mexico. its connections with Latin America and
the challenges itfaces in rhe new international
contexto but also on the society and culture of
the north. His prestige in intellectual and
diplomatic spheres allows him to attract
contributors ofhigh quality and relevance,
as he has done in rhis issue.
Finally, I would like to make special mentíon
ofrhe excellent work done by Mónica Verea, the
director ofThe Center for Research 0 11 the
United Sta tes, who performed rhe delicate task of
developing the magazine 's approach, and
making ir a part of the center 's program of
activities ij