Morphology, Tradition and Future of Mexico’s Consular Practice

The article reviews Mexico’s Consular Diplomacy’s historical development, as seen within the framework of the relationship with the United States of America. The chronicle shows the emphasis that has been put on consular protection and attention of the Diaspora, as a reaction to national interests and the needs/challenges of a growing Mexican population in the U.S. Throughout the text, the need to exploit Mexico’s Consular Network in the United States (agreat foreign policy asset in itself) not only to assist Mexicans abroad, but also to push forward the country’s international agenda at a subnational level is postulated. To achieve this, a paradigm of “Consular Public Diplomacy” is proposed to comprehensively promote the interests of Mexico and its nationals.