Local Governance: Exploring Participatory Mechanisms in Tlajomulco De Zúñiga, Jalisco, México.
Author (s): Greta Lydia Bustamante Hernández
Afiliation: University of Leeds
Abstract:
Despite the ongoing democratic changes that have developed since 2000, and that continues until now, the process of consolidating democracy in Mexico remains indefinable. This leads us to analyze the actions that the government has carried out and to examine the challenges it confronts. Mexican history offers valuable insights into areas requiring improvement across all three government levels. Nevertheless, the post-transition landscape has introduced intensified complexities, encompassing a spectrum of struggles within Mexican territory. My project uses ethnographic methodology to understand the challenges faced by local governments and citizens. By doing so, it seeks to contribute not only to the comprehension of local-level democracy in Mexico but also to a broader understanding of the struggles that face urban areas within Latin American cities.
My main aim is to analyze Mexico's post-2000 democratic transition through the perspective of municipal urban conditions. My research has two specific aims. Firstly, it aims to assess the effectiveness of citizen participation tools in empowering individuals living in the Jalisco municipality. By classifying the reach of these tools, it will provide insight into the extent to which they enhance citizens' engagement and decision-making. Secondly, this study aims to identify citizens who actively access these democratic mechanisms and investigate how they perceive, negotiate, and engage with them. It will shed light, therefore, on the intersection of participatory mechanisms with citizens’ values, goals, and experiences as a resident of Jalisco municipality. By highlighting these alternative approaches, this study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the diverse ways in which citizens unite, respond, and employ strategies to address the challenges within their communities.