Mexico City, June 18, 2024.- Experiences abroad are fundamental for academics as they allow them to acquire knowledge, skills, expand their network of contacts, develop their career and enrich themselves on a personal level. Such was the case of Dr. Jaime Olaiz González, research professor of the School of Law of the Universidad Panamericana, who recently had the opportunity to join the Kellogg Institute of International Studies as a Fulbright-Garcia Robles Professor of International Studies . Fulbright-García Robles COMEXUS Mexico at the University of Notre Dame.
World class experience
Jaime says that this opportunity came about because, as a former Fulbright-García Robles scholar, he receives the calls issued by COMEXUS for various programs. Thus, because of his current research projects on constitutional change, he decided to apply for the professorships offered at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Texas at Austin. "In the end I was selected as a visiting fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame," he recalls.
This institution stands out for its strong Christian identity, which influences all of its academic and research activities, making it a world-class university. For this reason, Panamericana has been following its work with special attention for years.
It was because of this interest and institutional identification that the academic thought it was an excellent opportunity to take advantage of a semester to learn from them and contribute to the rapprochement and collaboration between Panamericana and Notre Dame.
"It was a unique opportunity because it allowed me to study for my master's degree at Yale Law School, from which I entered their doctoral program, and that experience shaped me as a research professor in a fundamental way," he explains.
Constitutional regressions
During his semester at the Kellogg Institute at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Olaiz's research project focused on two main themes.
One was the analysis of the growing conflict between the political majorities and the dictates of the constitution and the impact this has on the erosion of the institutions that sustain the democratic system and the rule of law; and the second was to try to identify comparative experiences that have been successful in halting these regressive or degenerative processes.
He also adds that he has been working on a research project that addresses a growing concern about the impossibility in Mexico to qualify the (un)constitutionality of a reform approved by the reforming power of theMagna Carta .
"In a few words, I have tried to answer the question"Is there any protection against a constitutional reform that complies with all the procedural requirements established by the constitution itself, but that alters or changes fundamental contents of the constitutional text such as the pro persona principle and the protection of human rights, the democratic and republican form of government, or the federal character of the Mexican State?" he asks.
Study of constitutional change
The academic points out that, since his doctoral studies and the preparation of his thesis, he has been dedicated to the study of constitutional change from a comparative perspective, and currently the so-called abusive constitutionalism is one of the central concerns within the discussions of contemporary constitutional theory".
Similarly, it reveals that the discovery in each jurisdiction of what is understood as constitutional identity is an essential process to delimit those contents, principles and values of the constitution that are not susceptible to change even by super-majority parliamentary coalitions.
Thus, he states: "In this sense, I have been able to present my research at the work-in-progress seminar organized by the Kellogg Institute for its professors and visiting fellows with professors Aníbal Pérez Liñán, Diane Desierto and Francisco Urbina as commentators, among others.
In addition, a conference on the state of democracy and constitutionalism in Mexico was organized jointly by the Panamericana Law School and the Kellogg Institute. conference on the state of democracy and constitutionalism in Mexico in view of this year's federal elections, with the participation of Minister Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena, José Antonio Meade, and Francisca Pou Giménezwith the participation of Minister Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena, José Antonio Meade, and Francisca Pou Giménez.
Opportunity to broaden perspectives
Jaime has had academic experiences in institutions in the United States, Chile and elsewhere. About these, he says that "the dialogue with other colleagues and experiences allows you to broaden not only your perspectives, but also the way in which you conduct your research".
He adds that "italso helps you to join working groups with common intellectual concerns and immersed in different international academic activities that foster a permanent conversation and the articulation of common research projects".
Regarding her academic stay at the Kellogg Institute, she says: "It has allowed me to learn about the work of colleagues from other disciplines and to appreciate the contributions that can be made to the research work on the science of law. These exchanges and learning allow you to direct your work to audiences other than your own area of specialty or discipline.
Future plans
Dr. Olaiz reveals that from this stay at the University of Notre Dame he has been able to join a new academic network within the Kellogg Institute with which he intends to continue developing different research projects and, above all, to articulate institutional channels of collaboration with Panamericana that will allow more professors and students to take advantage of an international experience of this type.
She also adds that on the occasion of this stay, she received an invitation as Visiting Resource Professor from the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS) of the University of Texas at Austin (LLILAS) of the University of Texas at Austin, to teach in December of this year, a chair on constitutional change in Mexico, within the Constitutional Amendments in the U.S. and the World program, directed by Professor Richard Albert, with whom he is currently working on two research projects: one on constitutional multi-textualism and the other on constitutional dismemberments in Latin America.
Undoubtedly, Dr. Olaiz's experience underscores the importance of academic stays abroad as a means of fostering the exchange of ideas, enriching knowledge and strengthening connections between educational institutions globally.
Learn more about this academic at: https://www.up.edu.mx/investigacion/jaime-olaiz-gonzalez/?asp_highlight=Jaime+olaiz+gonz%C3%A1lez&p_asid=6
