Independence, sovereignty and the future of Mexico / Nayeli Jimenez

This article explores how the principles of Juche Idea have been applied in Mexico by examining its relationship with Mexican Humanism and the Fourth Transformation, the national ideology developed in the Latin American country. This ideology emerges in a context in which sovereignty and independence remain under constant threat. In the present day, Mexico represents a political case in which the government claims to place the people at the centre of public life and national decision-making.

The Mexican Context

In today’s world, the sovereignty of peoples continues to be threatened, particularly in Latin America, where the rise of new right-wing forces has reshaped the political landscape in countries such as Ecuador, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and Paraguay.

At the same time, Donald Trump’s discourse has crossed important political boundaries through statements concerning intervention in Latin America, including the case of Venezuela, as well as the ongoing blockade against Cuba.

Given this situation, there is now, more than ever, a need to reactivate revolutionary thought sustained by the people and for the people. In this sense, Mexico can be understood as a progressive country that continues to resist the onslaught of imperialism.

The Fourth Transformation

Historically, Mexico has developed its politics, ideological and economical project of the Fourth Transformation, that began in 2018, with the winning of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. He contributed theoretically, and in practice claiming that México has been historically through three different transformations. The so-called Fourth Transformation referred its name because his political and philosophical project seeks to live up to the three most important historical and social movements in Mexico that changed the course of the country, this being the fourth great stage of change.

Nowadays, the Fourth Transformation continues under President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the first female president in Mexican history. Her government presents itself as the construction of the so-called “second floor” of the Fourth Transformation, a new stage that seeks to deepen the political, social, and economic changes initiated during the previous administration.

The Fourth Transformation is a political and social movement opposed to neoliberalism and committed to the defence of national sovereignty. Its central purpose is to strengthen Mexico’s own capacities, protect its independence, and place the people at the centre of public life. Unlike previous historical transformations, this project seeks to change the political and social regime through peaceful and democratic means. This constitutes one of its main ideological principles and establishes a point of connection with Juche-based politics, particularly in its emphasis on sovereignty, independence, and the central role of the people in historical transformation.

Its strategy is not limited to a single presidential term, rather, it aims to promote a long-term transformation of public life. This implies a profound reorganization of the three main spheres that shape the country: the political and social sphere, the ideological sphere, and the economic sphere.

The spheres of the Fourth Transformation

The first political and social sphere of the Fourth Transformation is the struggle against corruption and the privileges historically enjoyed by a small elite. In this sense, the project proposes a profound reform of the State and of the electoral system, aimed at restructuring public institutions and strengthening democratic representation.

This political transformation is also expressed in a new model of governance based on the expansion of social programs, welfare policies, and universal access to basic rights. Its purpose is to reduce poverty, mitigate social inequalities, and establish a new social pact between the State and the people.

The second sphere is the ideological perspective; the Fourth Transformation defends autonomy in both foreign and economic policy. This principle constitutes one of the main driving forces of the project, since it affirms the right of Mexico to define its own path of development without external impositions.

At the centre of this ideological framework is Mexican Humanism. This guiding principle establishes that the well-being of human beings and the dignity of the people must be placed at the centre of State action, above the interests of elites or the market. Its central maxim is: “For the good of all, the poor come first.”

Closely linked to Mexican Humanism is the idea of a moral economy. This perspective rejects the neoliberal model and argues that economic development must have an ethical and social dimension. It prioritizes growth from below through the direct distribution of resources and maintains that genuine progress is incompatible with corruption, privilege, and social exclusion.

The third sphere is the economic, the Fourth Transformation is based on a model of “welfare economics” aimed at reducing poverty and inequality through income distribution, strategic public investment, and fiscal responsibility. This model promotes higher minimum wages, universal social programs, and direct support to strengthen people’s purchasing power. It also seeks to reactivate the economy through major infrastructure projects, especially in the south-southeast region, linking public investment to territorial integration and social justice. At the same time, it maintains healthy public finances, combats tax evasion, prohibits tax waivers for large taxpayers, and promotes nearshoring within the framework of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, with the goal of building a more equitable and sovereign economic model.

In this way, the Fourth Transformation presents itself not only as a political project, but also as an ethical, economic, and ideological proposal. Its central objective is to redefine the relationship between the State, the economy, and society by placing human dignity, social justice, and national sovereignty at the core of public life.

Human-centred philosophies are necessary to understand the development of our countries

The development of the Fourth Transformation in Mexico makes it especially relevant to examine the philosophy of the Juche Idea. Juche offers a conception of the human being based on independence, creativity, and consciousness as essential characteristics of human beings as social beings. From this perspective, the popular masses are understood as the protagonists of revolutionary struggle, and victory can only be achieved when they are organized, conscious, and mobilized.

As expressed in the thought of President Kim Il Sung, Chairman Kim Jong Il, and Marshal Kim Jong Un, the people are not passive recipients of history, but active subjects capable of transforming their own conditions. Therefore, the leaders of the people must remain deeply connected to the popular masses, understand their needs, awaken their consciousness, and encourage them to carry out the revolutionary struggle themselves.

This perspective allows us to draw a parallel between the basic principles of the Juche Idea and Mexican Humanism of the Fourth Transformation. In the Mexican case, national sovereignty reaches its highest expression when political leadership places the people at the centre of public life. The principle that “the people come first” becomes the foundation of national politics and economics, guiding public action toward collective well-being, independence, and social justice.

In this sense, Mexican Humanism and Juche Idea philosophy can be understood as two schools of thought that share a common concern for independence, sovereignty, and world peace. Both emphasize the central role of the people in the construction of a just society. Therefore, the study and dissemination of these ideas are important for the popular masses who continue to struggle every day to improve their living conditions and defend their right to self-determination.

（朝鮮新報）