Mexico has been fighting throughout history for democracy, a "great and formidable instrument to success," former Mexican ambassador to the United Nations Adolfo Aguilar Zinser said Monday at AU.
In the talk "Has Democracy Really Come to Mexico?" Zinser also highlighted Mexico's relationship with the United States.
"I urge you to look out in the horizon and be convinced that the U.S. is ultimately tied to Mexico ... We have been fighting for that destiny throughout history."
Zinser spoke about common stereotypes of the United States and Mexico's relationship, including phrases various leaders use such as "a distant neighbor." He also mentioned that many people feel that Mexico and the U.S. "agree to disagree."
Zisner also explained that Mexican presidential elections now take place every six years, though they used to happen every four.
"Elections tended to be very peculiar and predetermined," Zinser said.
The Institutional Revolutionary Party, or the PRI, devised imaginative ways to fix Mexico's democratic system, according to Zisner.
"In order to cope with the state of Mexican democracy, the PRI expanded its base of support to the media," Zisner said.
The PRI was in power for 70 years, until opposition candidate Vicente Fox won what many called an impossible race for the presidency in July 2000. In 1997, the PRI accepted full independence from the electoral body and this paved the way for Fox and his party, the National Revolutionary Party, or PAN, who currently leads Mexico.
Zisner drew praise from Robert Pastor, vice president of International Affairs at AU.
"Adolfo has had a long distinguished and controversial career," Pastor said. "He has worked for all three major Mexican political parties and led Mexico into efforts to help Iraq."
Pastor also discussed how Zinser was speaking in order to encourage students to study abroad in Mexico with AU's Canada and Mexico program. Pastor also heads the Center for North American Studies.
Zisner completed his undergraduate work at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Approximately 20 to 30 students and faculty members attended the speech.
