Issue and Opponent: In 2017, a Mexican organization called Ruta Civica launched a corruption tour in Mexico City. Government corruption at all levels has been found in Mexican institutions and their officials. Corruption is such a big problem that it is recorded to be the 3rd largest issue the Mexican public worries about. Though there have been several corruption scandals throughout the 21st century, the public believes that next to nothing has been done to combat and address the issue.
Dilemma Action: Utilizing the popularity of bus tours throughout Mexico City, a group of activists created a bus tour that transported riders to several sites of government corruption throughout the capital. Stops included subway lines that were never completed and even former President Peña Nieto’s “White House”. While on the bus tour, descriptions of the sites rooted in corruption were given to riders, as well as other ideas on how to address further governmental corruption. It was a widely held belief that corruption in Mexico should be addressed and individuals involved in perpetuating the issue should be held accountable before the law. The bus attracted domestic and international media attention for its stark appearance. There were no reports of the corruption tour being stopped or threatened with retaliation from the police or the Mexican government.
Outcomes: Corruption in Mexican institutions and officials is still ongoing today. The goal of this action was to hold the Mexican government accountable for its inaction in addressing this issue. An adverse reaction on the part of the Mexican government could’ve reignited past grievances, particularly regarding the 43 students abducted and massacred by the corrupt police in the southern state of Guerrero, due to the symbolism evoked by elements and features of the bus itself. The lack of interaction and engagement regarding the corruption tour bus allowed for a conversation to form, as well as a direct criticism of the Mexican government’s inaction towards this issue.