New Kafkabrigade in Mexico

3 Apr

The network is growing

In the spring of 2016, the Kafkabrigade Mexico will be opening its doors in Mexico City. Rik Peeters joined the Kafkabrigade shortly after his promotion on prevention policy. Just a year ago he moved to Mexico, where he now starts a Kafkabrigade as part of the Kafkabrigade Network. Together with a Mexican partner tried and tested in the Mexican public administration he's about to broaden the fight against red tape and bureaucratic dysfunction.

Incentives to not focus on public value

“In Mexico there are many incentives for government organizations not to focus on the continuity of public service delivery. Apart from corruption, the spoils system [after the elections loyal supporters of the winning candidates and party are rewarded with appointive public offices] makes it difficult to actually do something for people. Civil servants have to take into account what is politically expedient. This is not necessarily bad, however, it puts continuity under pressure. It's much harder to do anything with a long horizon. This will influence the way the Kafkabrigade has to operate in Mexico. As a Kafkabrigade we need a sponsor. We jumpstart the process of innovation and improvement, but we need a public manager that keeps the process going. Since this public manager is part of the spoils system, we will feel tension between the sponsor and the public value we try to bring about.”

Focus on the positive

Bureaucracy as a system of values, integrity being one of them, has failed here in many ways.And of course there's corruption. Mexico is number 96 on the transparency index. Bureaucracy as a system of values, integrity being one of them, has failed here in many ways. A lot of attention goes out to fighting this problem. At the same time, there are also many managers and civil servants trying to improve public administration. I believe it’s important to focus on them as well. However, we will also use the Kafkabrigade’s repertoire to experiment with new ways to make power accountable and improve integrity. In the commercial sector here you see mechanisms to evade corruption, but the costs of transaction are high. Many invoices, electricity and water for example, can only be paid at the bank, as a trusted third party. This way these companies make sure that all debts are collected and don't disappear in the pockets of the collectors. It's a protection of their customers at the same time. You could say: these companies don't trust themselves. And this workaround is created to show that they can be trusted. But it is very inefficient and costly. When I had to pay my tuition for a Spanish course at the university, it took me half a day.”

How we cooperate and spread the word

“Just like in the Netherlands we will use the teaching cases that the Kafkabrigade developed in the past decade.Just like in the Netherlands we will use the teaching cases that the Kafkabrigade developed in the past decade. We will teach at business schools and universities, because as a small organisation creating a larger movement is essential to be effective. It's also how we work together as Kafkabrigades. We use the work of the other brigades and share our own research in the same way. This makes us both more effective. We can start as if we're in business for years already, but we share our research and our data via the Kafkabrigade in the Netherlands with the other Kafkabrigades and vice versa”