New Books in Anthropology
Diana Graizbord, "Indicators of Democracy: The Politics and Promise of Evaluation Expertise in Mexico" (Stanford UP, 2024)
May 3, 2025
Diana Graizbord, an Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia, dives into her research on political accountability in Mexico. She reveals how evaluation expertise can enhance democratic practices amidst complex social dynamics. Graizbord discusses the evolution of Mexico's democracy through monitoring initiatives, particularly focusing on the influential conditional cash transfer program. She introduces the idea of techno-democracy, exploring the intricate balance between expert knowledge and citizen engagement in shaping social policies.
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Quick takeaways
- The establishment of Coneval in Mexico exemplifies how technocratic governance can enhance accountability through monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
- The disconnect between expert-driven assessments and citizens' engagement highlights the need for more inclusive approaches to democratic accountability in social programs.
Deep dives
The Role of Monitoring and Evaluation in Democracy
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are critically examined for their dual function in democratic processes, acting both as outcomes and inputs to democratic efforts in Mexico. The establishment of the National Council for Evaluation of Social Development Policy (Coneval) is a direct result of Mexico's transition towards a more technocratic and data-driven governance model. Programs like Progresa, a conditional cash transfer initiative, are lauded as successful exemplars of M&E, providing frameworks for assessing social policy effectiveness. This emphasis on evaluation aims to enhance transparency and accountability in governance, however, the relationship between M&E practices and genuine democratic engagement remains complex and contested.
