The Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies (USMEX) at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), in collaboration with CETYS Universidad, co-organized a panel discussion titled «Continuity or Political Alternation? Mexico’s 2024 Presidential Elections Series.»

The panel featured experts in politics from the binational Cali-Baja region and the international arena, including Javier Tello, political analyst in Mexico; Kate Bruhn, professor at UC Santa Barbara; Luis Carlos Ugalde, former president of the National Electoral Institute (INE, formerly IFE); Ciro Murayama, Visiting Fellow at USMEX; and Gastón Luken-Garza, government affairs expert. The discussion was moderated by Katherine Camacho, Associate Director of USMEX.

The welcoming remarks were delivered by Rafael Fernández de Castro, Director of the USMEX Center, followed by Dr. Carlos H. García-Alvarado, Director of Institutional Relations at the CETYS University System, representing CETYS President Dr. Fernando León-García.

«I firmly believe that conversations like these should translate into tangible actions. The challenges we face, while not insurmountable, demand collective efforts from institutions, governments, and civil society to address them.» Dr. García-Alvarado commented.

The panelists offered their insights into the upcoming elections, contextualizing this crucial dialogue within a broader global framework, seen through the lens of research and intellectual collaboration emblematic of these institutions.

UCSD and CETYS University are institutions located on the Cali-Baja border, a unique vantage point that allows them to contribute to the discourse from binational and culturally diverse perspectives. This position allows for a nuanced appreciation of the intricacies of these issues from both sides of the border, fostering collaboration and cross-cultural understanding among nations.

The event, hosted at UC San Diego Park & Market, was also attended by Mónica Manzanilla-Arellano, Vice-President for Advancement; Yanina Rubio-Bojorquez, Dean of CETYS University Tijuana Campus; Francisco Vélez, Dean of CETYS University International Campus in Ensenada; Bianca Barcelo, Director of the School of Law at the Mexicali Campus, along with various academics from the Undergraduate and Graduate School of Business.

This dialogue offered a unique opportunity for academics and students from all three campuses to deepen their understanding of Mexico’s electoral landscape for 2024 and the political outlook in the years ahead.