Mexico City, September 11, 2023. —Is it possible to strive for trustworthy, sustainable, and resilient governments? This is the question that brought people together virtually through the Universidad Panamericana, experts from various countries, who discussed their diverse perspectives on good governance in current local governments across different regions of the world.
At the event, organized by the Graduate Programs of the School of Government and Economics at the Ciudad Panamericana campus, representatives from our institution included Dr. Santiago García Álvarez, rector of the Mexico City and Ciudad Panamericana campuses; Cecilia Canal, M.A., academic vice rector; Francisco Gamboa, M.A., director of Graduate Studies; and Dr. José Antonio Lozano Díez, president of the UP–IPADE Governing Board.
The event also featured two external guests: Dr. Gloria Ostos, president of the Participa Foundation (Spain), and Dr. Carlos Gadsden Carrasco, president of the International Foundation for the Development of Trustworthy Governments (FIDEGOC).
Also in attendance were Markku Markkula, Vice President of the European Committee of the Regions of the European Union; Oscar Javier Schiappa-Pietra, Executive Director of the Peru chapter of the Binational Development Plan for the Peru-Ecuador Border Region; and Renán Alberto Barrera Concha, Mayor of Mérida, Yucatán.
First steps toward ideas and solutions
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. García Álvarez praised the partnership between the Pan-American University and the organizations FIDEGOC and Participa, stating: “The fact that international experts from around the world are coming together will undoubtedly contribute to the professional development of public servants, and this is important for the future.”
“I am confident that these efforts will lay the groundwork for concrete ideas and solutions that will lead to strong, sustainable governments in the future that benefit society,” he said.
He also noted that “the underlying issue is the aspiration to contribute to the development of trustworthy, sustainable, and resilient governments within the framework of democratic governance, through an innovative and people-centered approach. In all our activities, people must be at the center and must be involved in the development of all public policies.”
Consistent governance architecture
Taking the floor, Dr. Carlos Gadsden stated:“Governments are the primary providers of virtually every human activity on this planet. This applies to local governments—which are closest to the citizen—as well as to other levels of government, such as state and federal governments; for when the various levels of government do not work in an integrated manner, they fail to make progress.”
He also stated:“Trust is essential, and this involves building a coherent system of government for the benefit of citizens—one in which the various levels of government work together, implementing public policies and acting ethically, while respecting human rights.”
Innovation and Participation
Marcos Makula spoke about the goal of making Finland a pioneer in understanding societal development, with a particular focus on humanity and innovation, and emphasized: “This transformation will only take place if we invest in innovation, which will enable us to reinvent a suitable future.”
For his part, Renán Alberto Barrera spoke about the situation in Mérida, noting: “For us, it has always been very important that the issue not be limited to elections. People need mechanisms that allow them to support the government, to be part of the decision-making process, to be consulted, and to achieve the broadest possible consensus.”
“I believe that citizen participation that isn’t structured through clear mechanisms established by the government is simply anarchy; it breeds apathy, disillusionment, and eventually social frustration,” he added.
Preparing for the future
Dr. Lozano stated:“It is essential to prepare future professionals, executives, and public officials for decision-making, and this is generally an area that universities have yet to address. At the Panamericana University, we already offer a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Public Policy that addresses these issues.”
In general, with regard to the education sector, he emphasized the importance of “having skills-based programs that enable government experts to make effective, efficient, sustainable, and resilient decisions that, in some way, serve the common good.”
Finally, Carlos Gadsden noted that“in order to have trustworthy governments, we need to have confident citizens, and that means having trustworthy businesses, schools, police, and professionals— ones that allow us to work toward building a sustainable and resilient future.”
He also noted:“Countries that are most innovative in the area of the circular economy can be associated with an image of reliability.”
New UP Course: Trustworthy Government
During the event, the Panamericana University, through the Graduate Programs of the School of Government and Economics, in partnership with the International Foundation for the Development of Trustworthy Governments and the Participa Foundation, presented the executive program “International Course on Emotional Democracy and Trustworthy Government.”
This is a 12-week program designed to promote the development of trustworthy, sustainable, and resilient governments from a humanistic perspective on democratic governance, using an innovative approach to public policy.
For more information: fgamboa@up.edu.mx
