On an ordinary Sunday morning, around 200 people gathered in a Mexico City park to learn about the Mexico City branch of Wikipolítica, an upstart political movement. Yet, this was no ordinary rally. There were no uniforms, no stages, and no loud music to be found. And the audience, instead of being merely spectators, were themselves the speakers. The event was what Wikipolítica calls an “open classroom”. An open forum where people could discuss problems facing their local communities and voice their concern for issues they are passionate about.
Likewise, Wikipolítica is no ordinary political movement. Firstly, the majority of the movement’s leadership is below the age of 30. Secondly, the movement receives no funding and is entirely run by volunteers. Thirdly, they are not even currently recognized as a political party. Finally, the movement has no centralized national hierarchy. Each state-based chapter has almost complete autonomy in their internal structure and areas of focus. Decisions affecting the movement nationally are taken by consensus in bi-annual assemblies. In comparison to the large machinery that is Mexican politics, Wikipolítica might be a small movement, but in its short years of existence, it has made some fairly large waves.
Founded in 2012 by a group of Mexican college students in the aftermath of the implosion of the #YoSoy132 protest movement, Wikipolítica was born out of a desire to change the way politics are done in Mexico. Its founders took inspiration from the growing Pirate Party movement in Europe and other emerging initiatives to create a movement that was grassroots, people-driven, open, and community-oriented. Essentially taking the Wiki principle of building collectively out of the internet and into the realm of politics.
Unlike the more conservative traditional Left in Mexico, Wikipolítica’s platform is an unashamedly progressive one, rooted in ideas of human rights, democracy, and social justice. Its members champion causes such as environmentalism, pedestrian and cyclist activism, LGBT rights, and feminism, while taking a strong stand against corruption and the excesses of the Mexican political class.
By 2015, what began as a tiny movement would soon become a serious political force. The movement soon expanded from Mexico City to a second chapter in the state of Jalisco. It was there where they would take their biggest ever political gamble: launching an independent candidate for the 2015 local congressional elections. After rigorous research and field work, it was determined that the best place would be the State’s 10th district, in the suburbs of the city of Guadalajara. This was a mixed-income area, home to a large student population, and a district that had not been the stronghold of any political party in recent years, where the rate of spoilt ballots was higher than other places in Mexico.. And for its candidate, the movement would seek to appoint a non-politician who shared the movement’s values and would offer a fresh perspective. Their sights became set on 24-year-old Pedro Kumamoto, a young activist who was already well-known for his tenure as student body president at ITESO.
Through an innovative campaign that spread mostly through word of mouth, relied on small donations from district residents, was run entirely by passionate local volunteers, and had no billboards or television ads, Kumamoto secured a stunning victory and was elected to represent the district in the Jalisco State legislature. This catapulted Wikipolítica to the national spotlight, and the movement began to grow. Soon, a third chapter would be founded in the State of Baja California Sur by activists from the State capital of La Paz.
Two years later, the movement has continued to grow. There are now Wikipolítica chapters in 9 states across the country, with many more in the process of being formed. Dozens of events are held around the country every month, each attracting hundreds of people. 2017 would also mark the first time the movement would rally around a national initiative first originated by one of its chapters. As Congressman, and together with the input of Wikipolítica Jalisco, Pedro Kumamoto drafted a campaign finance reform titled Sin Voto No hay Dinero (No vote, No Money), which would seek to cut public funding to political parties by making it dependent on the rate of electoral participation. Soon, the proposal would go national, and would be voted in Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies. All of Wikipolítica rallied around the initiative, hosting events, holding demonstrations, and organizing campaigns to encourage people to call their district’s representatives, all of which garnered mass popular support and large media attention. The initiative may have been defeated on the congressional floor, but it did help gain momentum for the small but growing movement.
Now, Wikipolítica hopes to capitalize on this momentum as it sets its sights on the 2018 General Elections. Across the country, local chapters are discussing strategies and some are preparing to launch independent candidacies for their local congresses, all under the Wikipolítica banner. This may prove to be a defining moment for the group, as they begin to consolidate into a national movement with the power to transform the Mexican political landscape. It may still look like an uphill battle, but Wikipolítica has already done something revolutionary: Making a brand new generation fall in love with democracy.
Full disclosure: The author has been a member of Wikipolítica for two years