Research Spotlight: Isidro Morales Moreno

Isidro Morales is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the quarterly journal Latin American Policy, external fellow of the United States-Mexico Center of the Baker Institute at Rice University, National Emeritus Researcher at CONAHCYT, professor of International Relations at the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, and has been a visiting researcher at various universities worldwide. Dr. Morales is a graduate of El Colegio de

 México and obtained his PhD in International Relations from the Institute of Political Studies in Paris.

During the Spring 2026 semester at Yale, Dr. Morales is teaching LAST 3306: Mexico’s Strategic Partnership with North America, 1994-2025. The objective of this seminar is to analyze and understand the continuity and changes in Mexico’s strategic partnership in North America from 1994 to the present. 

What was your pathway to visiting Yale?

I am currently at Yale University thanks to the Fulbright-García Robles Mexican Studies Chair, a distinction I was awarded based on my professional trajectory as a professor and researcher in Political Science and International Relations.

At the turn of the century, I had the opportunity to participate in a workshop organized by the Academic Council of the United Nations System, which was held here at Yale. During that time, I stayed in the student dorms and truly immersed myself in the university’s intellectual and communal atmosphere. I was struck by the Neo-Gothic architecture—which reminds me of the historic colleges of Oxford and Cambridge—and by the compact, welcoming feel of New Haven, located just a few hours from New York City.

After that enriching first encounter, I always hoped to return. When I learned that Yale’s Council for Latin American and Iberian Studies (CLAIS) had an agreement with the Fulbright-García Robles Chair for a visiting professor for the Spring 2026 semester, I didn't hesitate to apply. The activities and seminars organized by CLAIS, along with their high-caliber guest speakers, have been deeply inspiring for both my own research and my general interests. It has been a remarkable opportunity, and I am committed to making the most of it.

What will you be working on when you are at Yale?

My research focuses on the political economy of North American integration, spanning its economic, social, and security dimensions. I completed my doctoral studies in France at Sciences-Po Paris, where my dissertation explored the energy geopolitics between Mexico and the United States. I remember my professors at the time suggesting I write my dissertation at an American university, where they felt I could learn more about the bilateral relationship than I could in France.

However, back then, I was particularly interested in studying French and European geopolitics. I was intrigued by how a country like France, after a history of expansionist and imperial foreign policy, had pivoted toward a strategy of intra-European cooperation—even going as far as giving up its own currency for the Euro. Understanding that shift helped me analyze the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 and the subsequent building of a continental region as we know it today, where Mexico plays a strategic role.

Since then, I make it a point to visit the United States frequently to collaborate with colleagues and meet new researchers to better understand the American perspective on integration. Thanks to my stay at Yale, I am connecting with new scholars interested in the Mexico-U.S. relationship while utilizing the university's fantastic libraries to deepen my research.

What has your experience been like teaching at Yale?

Very rewarding! I have excellent students who are highly motivated, and I am learning a great deal from their questions and research papers. Many of them are Mexican or have a personal connection to Mexico, yet most mention having limited knowledge regarding the "hot-button" issues of the Mexico-U.S. relationship. Since my course focuses specifically on these topics, I’ve been able to capture their interest and enthusiasm.

For a long time, I have believed that the most important goal of university teaching is not simply training students to pass exams but rather challenging them to recognize the limits of their own knowledge and encouraging them to overcome those limitations through their own inquiry and effort. In that sense, leading a research seminar with a small group of brilliant, enthusiastic students—like the one I am teaching at Yale—is a privilege. It allows me to help them reach their potential while I continue to learn from their unique perspectives and challenges.

How will you be working with Yale researchers?

Well, I have met other professors and visiting scholars at the MacMillan Center. We have a group list through which we communicate and occasionally meet for social activities. My colleagues come from very different backgrounds and interests than my own, which is exactly what makes our encounters so fascinating; we all learn from each other’s projects and the various theoretical frameworks we use.

I have also had the chance to meet researchers from the Canadian Studies Program, with whom I’ve been discussing pressing issues in the Canada-U.S. relationship. As one might expect, some of these topics mirror those between the U.S. and Mexico, while others are quite specific. Their insights have been highly relevant to my own work. For the remainder of my stay, I look forward to participating in the enriching lectures organized by the university and continuing to meet academics in both related and diverse fields.

The support and hospitality of the Interim Director of CLAIS, María José Hierro, as well as the staff—Tim, Paola, Leda, and Enit—have been fundamental to my experience here. I am very grateful to all of them.

What are you most looking forward to doing or visiting when at Yale?

To connect with my students and to inspire them to work on subjects related to U.S.-Mexico relations. To attend the different activities organized by the MacMillan Center and other Yale programs. Beyond that, I look forward to enjoying the cultural events at the Schwarzman Center, attending concerts at the School of Music, and visiting the exhibitions at the Yale University Art Gallery. Since New Haven is just a short trip from the heart of Manhattan, I also plan to take a few weekend trips to the Big Apple to enjoy the cultural offerings of the "city that never sleeps."