Background on Genaro Lozano and ITAM’s Role in Mexican Diplomacy
On September 11, 2001, Rafael Fernández de Castro, head of the International Studies Department at ITAM (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey), was among those analyzing the geopolitical shift caused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks on television. This event marked a turning point for ITAM, as media outlets began to systematically explore global contexts.
ITAM’s Influence on Mexican Diplomacy
ITAM’s International Studies Department, with professors like Olga Pellicer, Duncan Wood, Rossana Fuentes-Berain, Jesús Velasco, and Stephan Sberro, played a crucial role in shaping Mexico’s understanding of international affairs. Many Relations International students decided to join the Mexican Foreign Service (SEM) after studying the 9/11 tragedy’s practical implications.
President López Obrador’s Impact on ITAM and SEM
Seventeen years after the 9/11 attacks, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) initiated a double war against ITAM and the SEM. AMLO failed to uphold his promise of not politicizing the SEM by appointing unsuitable politicians, including governors from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) who later joined Morena.
One notable controversial appointment was Quirino Ordaz, a punishment against Spain for King Felipe VI’s refusal to grant “forgiveness” to indigenous peoples.
Mixed Reactions to Genaro Lozano’s Appointment
The Relations International program at ITAM, led by Natalia Saltalamacchia, surprised many students with its congratulatory message to Genaro Lozano for his appointment as ambassador to Italy. This gesture has left a deep sense of frustration among students who have spent 20 years in the SEM without being promoted to ambassadorial positions.
Gisele Fernández Lodlow, an exceptional student, was named ambassador to Nigeria and holds the rank of Counselor after 20 years in the SEM. Other successful cases include Patricia Pinzón, consul in Albuquerque, and Roberto Nicolás in Detroit.
Current State of Mexican Diplomacy
Lozano’s appointment comes during one of the worst periods for Mexican diplomacy in the past 50 years, marked by low salaries, alliances with authoritarian regimes leading to human rights violations, excessive political appointments, and a dogmatic approach to diplomacy.
During his time as subdirector of Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica at ITAM, Lozano was remembered as “demanding,” “protagonistic,” and “obsessed with being the center of attention.” He attempted to bypass the editorial structure by publishing an additional editorial alongside the director’s piece.
ITAM’s rector, Arturo Fernández, and professor José Ramón Benito distanced themselves from Lozano’s actions.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Genaro Lozano? Genaro Lozano is a Mexican diplomat recently appointed as ambassador to Italy by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
- Why is there controversy surrounding his appointment? Many ITAM students and alumni are frustrated, as they feel overlooked for ambassadorial positions despite their long service in the SEM. The appointment of Lozano, with his controversial past at ITAM, has added to this discontent.
- What is the current state of Mexican diplomacy? Mexican diplomacy faces challenges such as low salaries, questionable alliances with authoritarian regimes, excessive political appointments, and a dogmatic approach to international relations.
