Eleventh Global Studies Conference

Abstract

For more than seven decades an “oil-nationalism” has existed in Mexico, which is particularly expressed in the national oil company Mexican Petroleum, which had a monopoly on the exploration, drilling, transportation, processing and distribution of hydrocarbons. However, the last two years has given rise to a process of opening the Mexican oil industry to private participation, which, at least, in the mature fields may represent an alternative to increase the production of crude oil and a choice for local development, due to the obligation to implement concrete social, productive, and educational actions funded by companies, which must be based on a study of social impact. This work is divided into four sections, developing the idea that the passage of oil exploration and oil exploitation into private hands is not necessarily a negative. The first of these points deals with the evolution of the comprehensive contracts concerning the exploration and production of oil. The second deals with the relationship between energy reform and the widening of the field of studies of social impact. The third section deals with the relationship of these social impact studies with local development. Finally, the fourth section addresses a way to established linkages between universities and enterprises that could develop social responsibility schemes that can contribute to local development.