Vicente Fox Visits Darden

“What is better for the U.S. than having a successful neighbor to the South?” asked Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico, who addressed the Darden School of Business and the greater Charlottesville community on April 28. Fox was the keynote speaker of the Latin American Student Association Conference, co-sponsored by the Darden Leadership Speaker Series.

To Darden’s packed Abbott Center Auditorium, Fox described his evolution as a leader and his views on the most pressing global challenges – among them, the swine flu. He praised Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s reaction to the health crisis: “I think he’s doing a great job. He’s moving fast, and he’s taking courageous decisions, difficult to take. We all hope that this will be under control.” Calderón has closed all of Mexico’s schools and most of its public spaces until at least May 6.

Darden Dean Robert F. Bruner, who delivered the introductory remarks, acknowledged that Fox – who was raised on a ranch in Guanajuato, Mexico, became president of Coca-Cola in Mexico and then launched his political career, rising from governor of Guanajuato to president of Mexico, an office he held from 2000 to 2006 – embodies Darden’s mission of creating principled leaders in the world of practical affairs.

“True leaders go where they can make a difference, and President Fox has moved across the terrain,” said Bruner.

Since leaving office, President Fox and his wife, Marta Fox, who also attended the event, have launched the Fox Center in Guanajuato, Mexico, a research center, think-tank and presidential library whose goals are to promote freedom, democracy, market economies, responsibility and gender equity.

“Latin America is finally finding its path,” said Fox, who is a strong supporter of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). “We lost most of the 20th century to the hands of military dictators or authoritarian governments … but now we know that freedom and democracy work. As region, we grew 6 percent in the last 10 years, so we are back to growth.”

However, there is an urgent need to build the middle class, and the region needs powerful public and social policies, he said. “In my experience in Mexico, there’s no other way to create wealth than a market economy – private sector and private investment – which has to be associated with temporary, select government interventions which make sure to build human capital, to combat poverty, to create equal opportunities, education, health and housing.”

“Yet, no nation by itself today can accomplish its dreams or objectives,” said Fox. “Some are not paying attention to the big, strong idea of NAFTA. We have to shake things up and come back to the principles of an open market.”
 
Fox recalled his surprise when former U.S. President George W. Bush announced that the U.S. would build a security fence along the U.S. and Mexican border that aims to curb illegal immigration.

“The Berlin Wall didn’t work. The Chinese Wall didn’t work,” he said. “Walls are to isolate yourself. So the question is, what is the fear?”

“Migrants – documented or undocumented, from Mexico, El Salvador or Puerto Rico or Asia or India – have something within that makes them leaders,” said Fox. “They are hardworking, loyal and make enormous contributions to the U.S. economy.”

Fox noted that Mexico imports $250 billion worth of U.S. goods each year, and he called for urgent immigration reform – for the U.S. Government to reach a fair decision regarding the 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. “They make the nation more competitive,” he said.

“It’s so easy for politicians to be influenced by public opinion, re-election and polls, but real leaders have to go for the responsible action,” he said.

As for what Fox describes as the “mammoth financial crisis,” he warns that “we are all hit the same, but not all of us all have the same resources as the U.S.” He hopes that Mexico can get through the crisis without social despair or violence. “We need to work fast, and I know the whole world is working.”

To watch the entire speech visit our YouTube channel.

Founded in 1955, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business improves society by developing principled leaders in the world of practical affairs.

For additional information, contact communication@darden.virginia.edu.