“The United States Federal Government should significantly reform its foreign policy toward one or more of the following Central American countries: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.”
This year’s NCFCA and ASDA TP resolution asks us to learn about some of our neighbors, who are just a few countries south. Given the number of countries covered under the resolution, it opens the door to a wide range of policies. International policy resolutions are distinct from domestic policy resolutions in that they offer debaters a greater challenge and a good opportunity to be creative. Some of my best years debating in the league were when I was challenged by an international policy resolution.
With a new debate year right around the corner, it’s about that time in the summer when most people (except the most studious debaters who started researching when the resolution was released) start to think about the topic for the upcoming season. You may be asking, “How do I tackle this year’s resolution, and where do I start?” I hope to provide a brief orientation to this year’s topic and pique your interest by examining three broad issues related to the resolution: economics, national security, and global stability. Continuing reading below… or sign up for Lasting Impact!’s Online TP Camp (non league specific)! It starts next week. Also- our TP Sourcebook is COMING SOON!
One look at this resolution and you may be worried about the vast range of policies debaters may run. This is a valid concern; knowing about each of the six countries will take effort. As you research this resolution, however, you will notice common policy issues that this year’s cases will probably center around. So instead of breaking down this resolution specific to each individual country, consider looking at the following policy areas.
- Economics
The United States and its economic policies are closely linked regarding international reform. The United States has long used financial incentives and monetary policy to connect to other countries and as a way to influence policy in foreign nations. As a nation, our leaders understand the power of the dollar and are not afraid to use it. US policy toward Central America is no exception.
Economic policy primarily falls into three broad categories: economic aid, trade, and development. Regarding aid, the United States sends millions of dollars each year to each of these six countries. That aid is intended to help address the root causes of migration out of these countries and support disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. Regarding trade, the US is a trade partner, to some degree, with all of these countries. The US and Central America are certainly connected in trade, to the tune of billions of dollars each year. Regarding development (the process of strengthening education, building local economies, and supporting local infrastructure), the United States facilitates development through government-run programs and private partnerships seeking to bring about a stronger Central America. Many policy reform ideas can be crafted from these three broad categories, so don’t be surprised if these economic ideas appear in mandates this year. Our close economic ties to these nations serve as an effective bargaining chip when discussing how to enforce policy. - National Security.
When the United States crafts policy, many factors come into play. Perhaps one of the most important is national security. Our government has an obligation to protect our citizens and our borders. Given the geographically close proximity of the Central American countries to the United States, there is a need to discuss national security.
There are two distinct struggles in this area: drug trafficking and high migration. Both of these challenges are visible in the United States, as evidenced by an increase in overdose deaths and an influx of people coming over our southern border. Most of the illegal drugs coming into our country are from Central America. Illicit narcotics (like cocaine)are produced in Colombia and travel across the Central American countries to eventually cross the Mexico border into the border states (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California). Regarding high migration, recent estimates of numbers from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador report that over three million migrants from these countries have recently crossed the border and are currently living in the United States.
These issues directly impact the security of our nation; many lives are lost every year to the illicit narcotics pouring into our country. With such a high migration rate, there is an increased security risk in that we may not know who is coming across our borders. A wide range of solutions exists to tackle these national security issues. This year, persuasive, powerful cases finding creative ways to bolster our nation’s security can be crafted. - Global Stability
Beyond our interests at home, one of the reasons the US engages in international relations is to promote global stability. Stability is a state of equilibrium where countries are balanced and running properly. This stability worldwide provides a safer and more effective system for every nation, including the US. Unstable governments and systems in another country not only affect that nation but also have a ripple effect on other nations. Unfortunately, many stability problems within these six Central American countries affect the United States.
One issue of stability that plagues many Central American nations is corruption. It is a well-known adage that power corrupts, and the governments in these nations are not immune to this problem. Government corruption often allows cartels to prosper, which exacerbates violence and crime in these countries. Bribery, injustice, graft, and corruption are old stories that often repeat themselves in Central American countries.
The corruption that leads to national and global instability directly impacts the people living under these abusive government systems. As mentioned before, a government’s responsibility is to protect its people, but in corrupt systems, that obligation is often overlooked or ignored. This corruption causes problems not just for that nation but for surrounding nations and the US (as evidenced by the number of people coming over our border who originate from these countries).
Debaters this year should consider crafting policy that encourages stability by confronting corruption and increasing accountability. Many of these cases can use our leverage as a trade partner and ally to encourage the rule of law.
Is this resolution broad? Yes and no. Granted, there are a lot of countries to cover, but from a policy standpoint, there are a few key, important issues that most cases will be built on. Overall, this resolution offers a copious amount of content to consider and research. That content, however, is made manageable by focusing on the three broad categories listed above.
I hope this article motivates you to delve into this year’s resolution. Perhaps this basic overview has piqued your interest and will prompt you to research and find unique solutions to these problems. If you want a jumpstart on your knowledge, consider checking out the
Lasting Impact! Team Policy sourcebook (which will be released soon!). The sourcebook will contain a plethora of information to help guide your start to the season. Enjoy this season as you begin learning about these Central American countries!
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