In four days, it will be fifty years since the death of a dictator. Francisco Franco died between midnight on November 19 and the early hours of November 20, 1975. His death was recorded, made up, dressed up, and solemnly announced to the Spanish people. The message was read, with tears in his eyes, by the president of the government appointed by Franco himself: “Spaniards… Franco is dead.”
The march was entirely peaceful. There was no sign of any violent tendencies. The outbreak of violence brought to mind the events of October 2 in Tlatelolco. Citizens were protesting peacefully while the government plotted and organized the repression. Did the government strategists think of combining October 2 with the Halconazo? It seems so. What better strategy than to create chaos, violence, and confusion?
President Sheinbaum’s approach to Mexico’s security crisis fails to prioritize public safety, viewing organized crime and cartels as ideological issues rather than urgent threats to citizens. Inaction and normalization of violence hinder growth and progress, with citizens living in a climate of fear. Security is essential to prevent societal collapse.
The essay discusses the evolution of attention economy from the invention of the bikini by Louis Réard in 1946 to the digital revolution. Yanis Varoufakis argues that society has shifted from tangible goods to a system where attention is commodified, creating techno-feudalism. Users, now products, face a challenge in reclaiming focus amidst constant distraction.
The Global Video Media Forum, held in Xi’an with 300 journalists from various regions, highlighted a notable concern about engaging Generation Z. Authoritarian governments, struggling to appeal to this generation that dismisses propaganda, are attempting to innovate narratives while suppressing press freedoms. China’s leading role in this effort aims to control dialogue globally.
The discourse examines the theme of loyalty versus faithfulness in governance, highlighting scandals involving prominent figures like King Charles III and various Latin American presidents. It emphasizes the necessity of judicial integrity amidst political corruption, especially in Mexico, where a decline in trust is noted due to governmental actions undermining rule of law.
The youth rebellion, symbolized by Monkey D. Luffy from “One Piece,” reflects a surge of activism in Asia and beyond, particularly within Generation Z. Government attempts to co-opt these movements in Mexico demonstrate a fear of losing control, as genuine student uprisings challenge the status quo amid societal discontent and violence.
Over the past two decades, despite numerous tests and programs, we have not managed to establish trustworthy municipal police forces capable of confronting the expansion of organized crime, which is primarily sustained by their control of local governments. After months in office, President Sheinbaum rectified and presented a plan. Essentially, she is right: the key lies with the municipalities.
Mexico is experiencing its worst political moment under Sheinbaum’s young administration, with a governance crisis at a boiling point. There are social and criminal uprisings throughout the country. Violence is escalating, and the federal government’s inability to control the situation and to provide peace and tranquility is evident to citizens every day.
Luis Rubio argues that Mexico’s crisis stems from structural weaknesses and decades of mismanagement rather than individual blame. The country faces paralysis and corruption while requiring a shift from blame to reconstruction. It needs a comprehensive vision to build state capacity, confront violence, and foster sustainable collaboration with the U.S.