Background on Genaro Lozano and ITAM’s International Relations Program
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 watching the terrorist attacks on television in a cafeteria on ITAM’s San Ángel campus during a break from his International Relations class. This event marked a turning point for ITAM’s faculty, as media outlets began to systematically analyze global contexts and geopolitical shifts.
ITAM’s Impact on Mexican Diplomacy
ITAM’s International Relations graduates have significantly influenced Mexican diplomacy. Many students decided to join the Mexican Foreign Service (SEM) after witnessing the 9/11 attacks, driven by a meritocratic belief in advancing their careers within Mexico’s diplomatic corps.
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 not to politicize the SEM by appointing unqualified politicians, instead rewarding priísta governors who transitioned to Morena. One controversial appointment was Quirino Ordaz, seen as retaliation against Spain for King Felipe VI’s refusal to grant amnesty to indigenous peoples.
Mixed Reactions to Genaro Lozano’s Appointment
The International Relations program at ITAM, led by Natalia Saltalamacchia, surprised many former students with its congratulatory message to Genaro Lozano for his appointment as ambassador to Italy. This gesture has left many students feeling frustrated, as they have spent two decades in the SEM without being promoted to ambassadorial positions.
- Question: Why are students upset about the congratulatory message from ITAM’s International Relations program?
- Question: Who are some successful ITAM alumni in the SEM?
Answer: Students are frustrated because many have spent two decades in the SEM without receiving ambassadorial promotions, while Genaro Lozano, with a history of contentious behavior at ITAM, was quickly appointed as an ambassador.
Answer: Notable successes include Gisele Fernández Lodlow, a brilliant student appointed as consul in Nigeria; Patricia Pinzón, the consul titular in Albuquerque; and Roberto Nicolás, serving in Detroit.
Current State of Mexican Diplomacy
Lozano’s appointment comes during one of Mexico’s worst diplomatic periods in the last 50 years, characterized by low salaries, alliances with authoritarian regimes, excessive political appointments, and a dogmatic approach to diplomacy.
Lozano’s Tenure at ITAM
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 publish an additional editorial alongside the director’s, causing friction with then-rector Arturo Fernández and professor José Ramón Benito.
