I was in Washington recently for our annual client conference and all the talk was about Mexico. The desperate state of Mexico’s border region is one of the hottest issues around. The brutal turf war being played out by drug-gangs in such close proximity to the US is causing much anxiety. The close ties between the two countries and the extent to which international companies are irreversibly invested in Mexico, makes this an issue that cannot be ignored, however tempting.

Much of the commentary on Mexico suggests the country is on the verge of becoming a failed state. This is an exaggeration and no doubt irritates many Mexicans who in turn underplay the extent of their problems. But at least this viewpoint gives us the opportunity to provide our clients with a more nuanced and useful perspective. [Read more…]