Pamela K. Starr
Title:
Director, U.S.-Mexico Network; Associate Professor (teaching); University Fellow, Center on Public Diplomacy, University of Southern California
Mailing Address:
School of International Relations, 3518 Trousdale Parkway, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0043
Phone: 213-740-5122
Fax: 213-742-0281
Email:
Education:
BACalifornia State University, Northridge, Political Science, summa cum laude, 1982
MA Tulane University, Latin American Studies, 1984
PhD University of Southern California, School of International Relations, 1993.
Areas of Specialization:
Mexican Politics and Foreign Policy; US-Mexico Relations; Public Diplomacy in the Americas; Comparative Political Economy of Latin America.
Internet Project: The U.S.-Mexico Network@USC
A web-based effort to create a bi-national network of scholars, journalists, and other thought leaders that will promote communications and collaboration across national boundaries and among disciplines. The immediate objective of the Network is to generate an expanding array of mentoring relationships and unexpected acquaintances, cross-disciplinary conversations, and scholarly and non-scholarly collaborations.
The heart of the Network is a web site that serves not only as a point of aggregation and information sharing but also as a venue for multiple, on-going conversations on a variety of topics related to Mexico and U.S.-Mexico affairs. The Network will also tie in with regional conferences to exploit the capacity of the internet to expand these debates beyond the confines of the traditional conference setting. And the Network will itself sponsor conferences and other face-to-face meetings among participants to foster these relationships and to hone collaborative agendas.
Publications:
Books
Markets and Democracy in Latin America: Conflict or Convergence?, Contributor and Co-editor with Philip Oxhorn. Boulder, CO: Lynne Reinner, 2000.
Monographs
The United States and Mexico 2009: A Window of Opportunity? Los Angeles, CA: Pacific Council on International Policy, Special Report, April 2009.
Challenges for a Post-Election Mexico: Issues for U.S. Policy. New York, NY: Council on Foreign Relations, Special Report series. 2006.
Peer-Review Articles
“Monetary Mismanagement and Inadvertent Democratization in Technocratic Mexico” Studies in Comparative International Development 33:4 (Winter, 1999): 35-65.
“La política del manejo del tipo de cambio en México y Argentina, 1994-1995”. Política y gobierno. 6:1 (premier semestre de 1999): 129-169.
“Government Coalitions and the Viability of Currency Boards: Argentina Under the Cavallo Plan”, Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs39:2 (Summer 1997): 83-133.
Non-Peer Review Articles and Book Chapters
“Mexican Public Diplomacy: Hobbled by History, Interdependence, and Asymmetric Power”, Public Diplomacy 1:2 (Summer 2009): 49-53.
“Neither Populism nor the Rule of Law: The Future of Market Reform in Mexico”, Law and Business Review of the Americas15:1 (Winter 2009): 127-151.
“Challenges for a Post-Election Mexico: Issues for US Policy”, Law and Business Review of the Americas, 13:4 (Fall 2007): 799-820.
“Energy Reforms in the Short and Long Term”, In Andrew Selee, ed., Oil as a Strategic Resource in Mexico, Washington, DC, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 2008.
“Pax Americana in Latin America: The Hegemony behind Free Trade”. In Jorge I. Dominguez and Byung-Kook Kim, eds. Between Compliance and Conflict: East Asia, Latin America, and the “New” Pax Americana, Routledge, 2005: 77-109.
“Mexican Foreign Policy”. In Laura Randall, ed. The Changing Structure of Mexico: Political, Social and Economic Prospects, 2nd edition. M.E. Sharpe (2005), 49-57. Also published in Spanish: “La politica exterior de Mexico”, in Randall, ed. Reinventar México. Estructuras en proceso de cambio, Mexico, DF, Siglo XXI, 2006.
“Concluding Thoughts: The Roots of Misperceptions”. Perceptions and Misconceptions in US-Mexico Relations. Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 2005.
“El interludio Castañeda y el sueño de América del Norte” (with David Ayón). In Rafael Fernández de Castro, ed. En la Frontera del Imperio: México en el Mundo 2003. Mexico City: Planeta, 2003.
“Dollarization in Mexico: Does It Make Sense and Is It Likely?” In Carl A. Cira and Elisa N. Gallo, eds. Dollarization and Latin America: Quick Cure or Bad Medicine? Latin American and Caribbean Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 2002.
“Pesos for Dollars? The Political Economy of Dollarization in Latin America”. The Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, 21:1 (81) January/March 2001: 62-77.
“International Financial Institutions in Latin America”, in Jorge Dominguez, ed. The Future of Interamerican Relations, Routledge, 1999: 131-152.
“Monetary Mismanagement and Inadvertent Democratization in Technocratic Mexico” Studies in Comparative International Development 33:4 (Winter, 1999): 35-65.
“La política del manejo del tipo de cambio en México y Argentina, 1994-1995”. Política y gobierno. 6:1 (premier semestre de 1999): 129-169.
“The Politics of Exchange Rate Management in Mexico and Argentina, 1994-1995”, in P. Oxhorn and P. Starr, eds. Markets and Democracy in Latin America: Conflict or Convergence? (Boulder, CO: Lynne Reinner, 1999): 203-238.
"State Capacity and the Management of Economic Reform". In Leslie Armijo, ed. Conversations on Democratization and Economic Reforms: Working Papers of the Southern California Seminar, 19921993. Miami: The NorthSouth Center, 1995.
"The United States and the Cuban Revolution, 19581960" (with Abraham F. Lowenthal). In Martin Staniland, ed. Falling Friends: The United States and Regime Change Abroad. Westview Press, 1991.
Solicited Articles
“PAN Mid-term Election Loss Could Cripple Calderón”, Focal Point: Canada’s Spotlight on the Americas, 8:3 (April 2009) Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL).
“Mexico Under Calderon: Prospects for the Bi-Lateral Relationship”, U.S Policy in Latin America, Proceedings from Eighth Conference, Washington, DC: Aspen Institute, 2008, pp. 7-12.
“El final del presidencialismo”. Poder y Negocios 50 (diciembre 2004-enero 2005): 36-41.
“US-Mexico Relations”. Hemisphere Focus 12:2 (9 January 2004), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS),
“The Mexican Mid-term Elections: The PRI Resurgent and Democracy Strengthened?” Focalpoint: Spotlight on the Americas 2:7 (July 2003), Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL),
“Argentina: Anatomy of a Crisis Foretold”. Current History (February 2003): 65-71.
“Fox’s Mexico: Same as It Ever Was?” Current History(February 2002): 58-65.
“La perspectiva económica en América Latina después del ataque al World Trade Center” (with Walter Molano). Foreign Affairs en Español 2:1 (primavera 2002): 65-85.
“Dragon Breath: The Asian Effect in Latin America” Hemisfile (March/April 1998).
“A folia do cambio fixo.” Politica Comparada 1:2 (1997): 140-149.
Review Essays
“Mexico: Political Economy”, in Library of Congress, Handbook of Latin American Studies, forthcoming 2010.
“The Political Economy of Reform in Latin America: Politics, Institutions, Ideas, and Context” Latin American Research Review, 44:3 (2009).
“Mexico: Political Economy”, in Library of Congress, Handbook of Latin American Studies, 2008.
“Perfecting Reform in Latin America: What Role for the State?” Latin American Research Review, 37:2 (2002): 183-199.
Book Reviews
Camp, Roderic Ai, Mexico’s Mandarins: Crafting a Power Elite for the Twenty-first Century. Berkeley and Los Angeles, University of California Press, 2002. Published in Estudios Interdisciplinarios de América Latina y el Caribe15:2 (julio-diciembre de 2004) and Foreign Affairs en Español, 3:2 (2003).
Hira, Anil, Ideas and Economic Policy in Latin America: Regional, National, and Organizational Case Studies. Westport: Prager, 1998. Published in Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs, 42:2 (Summer 2000): 146-149.
Mahon, James. Mobile Capital and Latin American Development. Penn State Press, 1997. Published in the Canadian Journal of Political Science 30:2 (July 1997) 397-398.
Book Manuscripts in Progress
“A Quarter Century of Policy Reform in Mexico: Unexpected Drivers and Unintended Consequences” (estimated time of completion: Fall 2010).
“Latin American Economic Policy-Making: The Persistence of Inefficiency” (estimated time of completion: 2012).
Fellowships, Scholarships, and Grants
Inter-American Development Bank, Report writing grant:
“The Politics of Social Policy in Mexico”, December 2005-September 2006.
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars:
Public Policy Scholar, September-December 2003 and July-August 2005.
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Sistema Nacional de Investigadores, Nivel 2 (Mexican government award for academic achievement), 2005.
Earhart Foundation Research Grant, 2001.
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Sistema Nacional de Investigadores, Nivel 1 (Mexican government award for academic achievement), 1999.
Organization of American States, Dissertation Research Fellowship, 1991.
Pew Initiative in Diplomatic Training Grant (shared with Abraham Lowenthal), 1988.
University of Southern California, Teaching and Research Fellowship, 19851989.
Tulane University Academic Fellowship, 19831984.
Judge Julian Beck Award for Academic Achievement, 1982.
Professional Activities
Policy Briefings
2009
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, in advance of her trip to Mexico, March.
US Ambassador to Mexico Designate, Carlos Pascual, in advance of his departure for Mexico, June.
2007
US Assistant Secretary of Commerce, David Bohigian, prior to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez’ trip to Mexico, January.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg prior to trip to Mexico, April.
1999
Senator Rodolfo Elizondo, Chair of the Latin America Sub-Committee, Mexican Senate, briefings on Latin American Politics and Mexico-Latin America Relations.
Consultancies
Political Risk in the Mexican Economy:
Scotia Bank, 2009
Council on Emerging Markets, 2009
Eurasia Group, 2006-2007
BCP Securities, 2005
Granville Cooper, 2000-2003
Barclays Bank 1999-2000
Paribas Bank, 1998-1999
Marconi Communications/Reltec, 1998-2001
Consultancy Reports:
National Intelligence Council. “Mexico’s energy crisis: How bad can it get?”,
2007.
National Intelligence Council. “The Mexican Presidential Election:
Implications for Political Stability and Governance”, 2006
Positions Held
Associate Professor (teaching), School of International Relations, USC (August 2009-)
Director, U.S.-Mexico Network@USC (April 2009-present)
University Fellow, Center on Public Diplomacy, USC (August 2007-)
Senior Lecturer, International Relations and Public Diplomacy, USC (August 2007-July 2009)
Adjunct Fellow, Pacific Council on International Policy, Los Angeles, CA (2008-2009)
Senior Analyst, Latin America. Eurasia Group, Washington, DC (2006-2007) Adjunct Professor. Center for Latin American Studies. Georgetown University (2006-2007)
Professor/Researcher, Department of International Studies, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), México City, Mexico. 1997-2005
Public Policy Scholar. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, DC. July-August 2005 and September-December 2003.
Visiting Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington, DC. January-May 2004
Visiting Researcher, Georgetown University, January-May 2004
Invited Professor, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary, July 2001.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Fall 1993 and 19941997
Visiting Assistant Professor, The Claremont Graduate School, 19931994 and Fall 1996
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Occidental College, 1990 and 1992-1994
Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of International Relations, University of Southern California, 1989 and 1994
Visiting Researcher, Centro de Pesquisa e Documentacao, Fundação Getulio Vargas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, SeptemberDecember 1991
Visiting Researcher, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE), Mexico City, Mexico, AprilJune 1991
Visiting Researcher, Centro de Estudios de Economía y Sociedad (CEDES), Buenos Aires, Argentina, SeptemberDecember 1990
Research Associate, Congressional Research Service, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division, JuneSeptember 1988
Media Activities
Political and economic commentary on television and radio in Mexico and the United States, including The News Hour, Charlie Rose, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, American Public Media’s Marketplace,CNBC, BBC-World, CBC Television, CNN International, Televisa, and Zocalo Public Square.
Opinion articles in the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Chicago Tribune, La Opinión (Los Angeles), Reforma (Mexico City), and the Mexican news weekly Cambio.
Quoted in over 40 newspapers, news magazines, and wire services in the United States, Mexico, and Europe, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Washington Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Houston Chronicle, Christian Science Monitor, Newsweek, and Business News Americas.
Guest commentator, Latin American Adviser, Washington, DC: Inter-American Dialogue, 2002-2003 and 2006-present.
Great Decisions Television Series, "A New Beginning? The Future of U.S.-Mexico Relations", October2006.
Subject of an extended published interview: “Los retos para el proximo sexenio” by Dolia Estevez. Poder y Negocios Magazine 2:17(15 August 2006), 66-69.
Professional Associations:
Latin American Studies Association (founding member of Mexico Section), Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales, Inter-American Dialogue.
Invited Presentations
2009
UCLA Hammer Museum, Hammer Forum, 19 August
George Washington University, National Security Studies Program,
17 August.
Institute of the Americas and Government of the State of Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico, 27 July
12th Annual Harvard Latino Law and Public Policy Conference, Harvard University, 24 April.
UCLA Global Security Seminar, 26 March
American of Chamber of Commerce, Mexico, Mexico City, 11 March
Pacific Council on International Policy, San Diego and San Francisco, February and June
2008
The Inter-American Dialogue, Washington, DC, 18 December
Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Chicago, 17 November
Institute of the Americas, La Jolla, California, 15 November
Mexico Business Summit, Monterrey Mexico, 10-11 November
Center for Hemispheric Policy, Mexico Task Force, Miami, 28-29 May
Pacific Council on International Policy, Los Angeles, September
2007
“Energy Reforms in the Short and Long Term”, Woodrow Wilson Center Working Group on Energy in Mexico, 13 July
“The Calderon Government: Challenges for Governing Mexico and Issues for US Policy”, David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University, 23 April
“Political Party System in Transition”, Institutions and Political Actors in Mexico’s 2006 Elections, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 31 March
2006
“The Mexican Election: Implications of US Policy”. Latin America Elections Update, Council on Foreign Relations. New York, NY. 27 November
“Challenges for a Post-Election Mexico.” Congressional Staff Roundtable, Council on Foreign Relations. Washington, DC. 6 October
“Roundtable on the Mexican Presidential Election.” Inter-American Dialogue, Washington, DC, 11 July
“The Mexican Election and US-Mexico Relations. Hudson Institute Congressional Staff Roundtable. Washington, DC. 12 June
“Mexican Migration Politics.” INR Conference on Migration, Arlington, VA, 20 April
“Mexico’s Political Party System in Transition”. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 6 March
1995-2005
“US-Latin American Relations.” State Legislative Leaders Foundation, Mexico City Meeting. March 2005.
“Globalización. Mexican Senate. Mexico City, 18 October 2004.
“The Political-Economy of Dollarization and Currency Boards in Latin America.” Inter-American Development Bank. Washington, DC. 17 June 2004.
“Thinking about Governability in Latin America: The Politics of Dollarization.” International Monetary Fund. Washington, DC. 13 May 2004.
“Mexican Domestic Politics: Recent Developments, Short-Term Outlook”, CSIS Roundtable Discussion, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC, February 2004.
“Pesos for Dollars? The Political Economy of Dollarization in the Americas”. Laval University, Québec, Québec, Canada. November 2003.
“The Political Economy of Dollarization in El Salvador”. Escuela Superior de Economía y Negocios, San Salvador, El Salvador. November 2003.
“The US-Mexico Bilateral Relationship in Perspective”. US Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Arlington, Virginia. September 2003.
“Mexico-US Relations in the Fox Era”. Mexican Cultural Institute, Washington, DC. November 2003.
“La guerra en Iraq y las relaciones México-Estados Unidos”. Conferencia Espacio 2003, Veracruz, Mexico, April 2003.
“El Origen de la Crisis Argentina: Lecciones para el Desarrollo del Modelo Neoliberal”. Series of talks arranged by the U.S. Consulate, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 15-16 April 2002. Audiences included the Chamber of Commerce (CANACO), Universidad de Guadalajara, Universidad de la Valle de Atemajac, and the newspaper “El Informador”.
“The Origins of the Argentine Crisis and its Consequences for Mexico”. U.S. Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico, January 2002.
“Globalization and National Security”. Centro de Estudios Superiores Navales, Mexico City, Mexico, September 2001.
“Globalization and Labor”. CALIS Summer Institute for Educators, University of Southern California, August 2001 and November 2001.
“La dolarización en América Latina”. Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aries, Argentina, May 2001.
“Los obstáculos políticos ala implementación de la dolarización”. El Rol del Banco Central debajo de la dolarización. Conference sponsored by the Central Bank of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador, 22-23 March 2001.
“How is the Mexican Business Culture Coping with Globalization?” World Economic Forum, Mexico Meeting 2001, Cancun, Mexico. 26-27 February 2001.
“The Collapse of the PRI System in Mexico”, UCLAISOP Summer Institute for Educators, University of California, Los Angeles, August 2000.
“La Política de la dolarización en América Latina”. Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Buenos Aires, Argentina. April 2000.
“The Politics of Dollarization in Latin America”. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Inter-American Dialogue, Washington, DC. March 2000.
“The Impact of International Financial Markets on U.S.-Latin American Relations”. Relaciones Estados Unidos-América Latina en al Posguerra Fría, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), México, DF, 1-2 de junio de 1998.
“International Financial Institutions in Latin America”, The Inter-American Dialogue, 18 March 1998 and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, September 6-7, 1998.
“Comment: The Viability of Currency Boards: Argentina versus Indonesia.” Los saldos del milagro: La crisis financiera en Asia. Centro de Investigación y Docéncia Económica (CIDE), Mexico City, 20 February 1998.
“Mexican Pluralism and Economic Stability: The Challenges Ahead for Managing the North American Relationship.” Reinventing North America: Tending the Relationship. Conference co-hosted by the North American Institute and the Council on Foreign Relations, San Diego, CA, November 14-15, 1997.
“The Globalization of the World Economy”. ITAM-CSIS conference for Mexican Senators of the Nation Action Party, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Mexico City, October 1997.
"Mexico at the Crossroads: Reform or Revolution?", San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, CA. May 1995.
Invited Course Lectures
“Mexican Public Diplomacy”, Summer Institute in Public Diplomacy, Center on Public Diplomacy, University of Southern California, July 2009.
“Development in Latin America”, CALIS Institute for Educators, University of Southern California, August 2008.
“Markets and Politics in Latin America”, CALIS Institute for Educators, University of Southern California, January 2007.
“Mexico: The Political Economy.” Foreign Service Institute, Arlington, VA, 5 March 2007 and 28 August 2006.
“Markets and Politics”. CALIS Summer Institute for Educators, University of Southern California, 20-21 July 2006.
“Why is Economic Reform so Difficult? The Political Economy of Market Reform and Privatization in Latin America.” Foreign Service Institute, Arlington, VA, 2 May 2006.
“Economic Governance in Mexico: The Fox Administration and Beyond.” Foreign Service Institute, Arlington, VA, 9 March 2006.
“Globalization and its Impact in Latin America”. Social Action Summer Institute, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, July 2002 and the Summer Institute for Educators, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA, July 2002.
“The Political Economy of Globalization in Latin America”. UCLAISOP Summer Institute for Educators, University of California, Los Angeles, August 1999.