Without a doubt, the drug war is real. But there is far more to Mexico's story than the narcos’ gruesome narrative would suggest.
While thugs grabbed headlines, Mexico experienced an unprecedented and under-publicized political, economic, and social transformation. Two Nations Indivisible argues the United States is making a grave mistake by focusing on the politics of antagonism toward Mexico. Rather, we should wake up to the revolution of prosperity now unfolding there.
The news that isn't being reported is that, during the early 2000s, Mexico became a real democracy, providing its citizens a greater voice and opportunities to succeed on their own side of the border. Armed with higher levels of education, upwardly-mobile men and women worked their way out of poverty, building the largest, most stable middle class in Mexico's history.
This is the Mexico Americans need to get to know. Now more than ever, the two countries are indivisible. It is past time for the United States to forge a new relationship with its southern neighbor. Because in no uncertain terms, our future depends on it.