| Sumario: | This article explores the concept of nearshoring, which involves moving manufacturing from China to the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. It discusses the potential for job creation in the border region and highlights the geopolitical tensions between the United States and China as a driving force behind this shift. The article also delves into the historical development of the maquiladora industry in Ciudad Juárez and its connection to border militarization. It argues that the militarization of the border is crucial for the economic competitiveness of the region and for U.S. economic interests. The Covid-19 pandemic raised concerns about factory closures in Mexico and their impact on U.S. supply chains, leading to pressure from the U.S. government to keep maquiladoras open. The nearshoring of supply chains to Mexico allows transnational firms to maintain high profits while paying low wages. The article highlights the exploitative labor practices and profit motives behind these decisions, which are often obscured by rhetoric linking nearshoring to national security concerns. Border militarization has intensified in recent years, with both the U.S. and Mexican governments deploying troops to maintain a safe investment environment. This historical transformation of the borderlands illustrates the intertwining of economic interests, national security, military intervention, and the extension of U.S. influence globally. Maquiladora workers face low wages, militarized landscapes, and the risks of unauthorized border crossings as they navigate these struggles.
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