Final Mexico Case Study
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
... The Role of Associations in Strengthening Local Government A Look at AMMAC Asociación de Municipios de México, A.C. ... CONTENTS Introduction | 1 Local Government Worldwide | 1 Role of Local Government Associations | 1 Background | 2 Colonial Inheritance and Revolution | 2 Traditional Politics and Local Government | 2 Political Opening | 3 The Founding of AMMAC | 3 Establishing a Strong Base | 4 AMMAC—The Early Years | 5 AMMAC Today | 6 Role of AMMAC in the Local Government Sector | 6 Advocacy: Local Government Rights | 6 Capacity Building: Stronger Local Government | 10 Networking: Learning from Each Other | 12 Legal Framework: Know Your Rights | 14 Media Relations and Public Outreach | 16 Evolution of Local Government | 17 Viability of AMMAC for Long-Term Success | 18 Governance, Leadership, and Management | 18 Programs: Plan, Execute, Evaluate | 19 Human Resource Management | 20 Communicating with Members | 21 Member Meetings | 22 Advocacy Program | 22 Financial Viability | 22 Emerging Issues in Association Development | 24 Summary | 24 Please note: In the text municipality and local government are used inter- changeably when referring to cities, towns, and villages. Local government does not refer to state government. The terms national, federal, and central refer to the highest level of government. The term state refers to regional levels of government within the federal system. In Mexico, the political parties most active in local government are PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party), PAN (National Action Party), and PRD (Party of Democratic Revolution). The parties are referred to in the text by their Spanish acronyms. ... The forces of change are INTRODUCTION Role of Local Government Associations sweeping through the cities Local Government Worldwide Local government associations play an and towns of Mexico. The For centuries, many countries have important role in enhancing the ability vehicle for that change is maintained a centralized political of their members to continually hone system, whether military or civilian, and improve their skills. Associations local government. Working democratic or authoritarian. In prac- provide a forum for information together via their association, tice, control remained at the center exchange, serve as a center for and local governments served as research in support of professional municipalities are creating arms of the state or pawns without a development, and serve as an advo- a more supportive legal and say in their destiny. Without financial cate for members vis-à-vis other levels resources, decision-making power, or a of government and relevant institu- regulatory environment and voice, what happened at the local level tions. Local government associations sharing information to improve depended almost entirely on whim and can help define important governance political intrigue. issues and work to improve the image management and service of local government with the public. However, the last decade has delivery. Increased revenue witnessed a global trend toward Local government reform and the sharing for local government, democracy and the decentralization establishment of local government of authority. Local government is associations have often come at a time skill building in financial increasingly recognized for its poten- of transition. In the United States, management, and information tial contribution to the economic for example, the National League of development and socio-political stabil- Cities, the National Civic League, and sharing among municipalities ity of a country. In the developing the City Managers’ Association (today are but a few areas that have world and among countries in transi- known as ICMA, the International tion from the former Soviet bloc, City/County Management Association) been impacted and improved dramatic decentralization during were all established between 1894 and the last ten years has increased the 1924 when many American citizens by the work of the local autonomy and responsibility of local were expressing their unwillingness government association and governments. Instilled with the to tolerate dysfunctional, often cor- opportunity to make decisions, local rupt, local government and limited, its members. leaders with the political will and ineffective services. leadership capacity have moved their municipalities visibly forward in areas In many countries undergoing political of management, citizen participation, reform or decentralization, the and service delivery. These success establishment or renewal of local stories, unfortunately, remain largely government associations has taken isolated, and there is much to do to place. Hopefully, these associations enhance the skills of local elected and have the will and capacity to support appointed officials so that local gov- local governments in their increas- ernments will be able to reach their ingly important roles. The Association full potential within a changing envi- of Mexican Municipalities (Asociación ronment and better meet the needs de Municipios de México) or AMMAC of their communities. is an example of a new association that is standing up for local government and working to ensure that local offi- cials will have the skills to meet the challenges involved in service delivery and improving the lives of citizens. ... 1 ... ... BACKGROUND One hundred years later, a new gener- Traditional Politics and ation of young leaders wanted to Local Government Colonial Inheritance and participate in the political system, Until recently, the roles of the mayor Revolution which was closed and narrowly and the municipality in Mexican local managed. Many social problems Like many countries throughout Latin governments were very limited. Cities existed. The Mexican Revolution America, Mexico inherited its political were essentially the administrative took place and eventually resulted and socioeconomic structures from a arms of the state and were controlled in the establishment of the National legacy of colonization. The strong cen- politically by the governors. Mayors Revolutionary Party (Partido tral government of Mexico, then called in Mexico were directly elected, as Nacional Revolucionario), which New Spain, maintained control and they have been since 1946. But later became the Institutional answered directly to Spain as the most because of the power of the PRI and Revolutionary Party, PRI (Partido important colony. Mining and agricul- its control over all levels of govern- Revolucionario Institucional). tural products produced fortunes that ment and the economy, virtually all Through the full control and sharing were exported to Europe. Throughout mayors—like governors, senators, of power within the political system the country, political leaders were and legislators—were from the PRI. clearly dominated by this one party, appointed by the king or his New An occasional opposition mayor was many years of stability ensued. World representatives. Independence elected, but with virtually no impact Agreements made among politicians was declared in Mexico on September on the system. included prohibiting reelection to 15, 1810, but the centralized political ensure that there would be space for and economic system remained. many party members to have their turn in a position. With no real compe- tition or balance of power, corruption was allowed to flourish and political stagnation took hold. MEXICO AT A GLANCE UNITED STATES Governmental System Federal Republic Official Name United States of Mexico MEXICO GULF (Estados Unidos Mexicanos) OF MEXIC0 Population Almost 102 million1 Number of states Mexico City 31; 1 federal district Number of municipalities PACIFIC OCEAN BELIZE 2,4292 GUATEMALA Nominal GDP HONDURAS $557 billion (est. 2000)3 EL SALVADOR GDP per capita NICARAGUA $5,223 (est. 2000) ... 2 ... Furthermore, the legislative environ- Political Opening The Founding of AMMAC ment in Mexico left municipalities In Mexico throughout the 1980s, more At a political event, the mayor dis- essentially powerless. In order to opposition party candidates were cussed this issue with his colleagues. provide any service to the community, being elected at all levels of govern- The mayor of Mazatlan, who was fin- a municipality had to request permis- ment. In 1989, the constituents of Baja ishing his term, told of an exchange sion from the state. Therefore, California elected a non-PRI governor, with local government associations municipalities had to fight political which got international attention. in Germany in which he participated. battles for the right to serve the This changing composition created This information planted the idea community. Municipalities’ powers a space—albeit a small one—for dia- about the importance of a horizontal, were also constrained by their lack logue and initiated a new dynamic. A inclusive local government associa- of revenues: the miniscule revenues new balance of power was emerging.5 tion. For nearly a year, the new mayor allocated to local government repre- and his staff researched various local sented much less than 5 percent of In 1992, the newly elected mayor of government associations from Spain, all government spending in Mexico. Tijuana read about another mayor Chile, Canada, and the United States, The lack of possibility for reelection who used his political connections and among others, to find out how they of mayors and other elected officials turned to the federal government are organized, what they do, and further weakened local government to request