Navigating Crisis and Democracy: Analyzing Mexico through the Neo-Weberian State and the TODO framework

Abstract

This study uses the Neo-Weberian State (NWS) and TODO frameworks to examine Mexico’s public sector reforms and current challenges. Analyzing the trajectory of public administration reforms reveals a historical context of mixed logics, weak institutions, and limited capacity, further aggravated by recent democratic backsliding, dismantling, and austerity cuts. Next, based on the TODO framework, emphasizing turbulent environments, oscillating knowledge quality, domino-falling types of interdependence, and opposing solutions, we analyze the case of the migration crisis at the US-Mexico border as a way to exemplify current challenges faced by the Mexican public sector. The analysis exposes shortcomings in crisis management, highlighting political neglect, strained US-Mexico relations, and prolonged uncertainty for asylum seekers. Overall, the study underscores Mexico’s need to enhance systemic resilience governance. Findings contribute to the study of discourse on governance models, emphasizing the importance of adaptive frameworks for crisis management and democratic governance in the Global South.