The participation of civil society acquires greater relevance in the conduct of international relations, to the extent that it influences issues such as human rights, development, economy and trade, climate change and the environment, among others. Democratic innovations have allowed a greater rapprochement between the government and civil society in matters of foreign policy, which helps states adapt to globalization. In issue 98 of the Revista Mexicana de Política Exterior, officials from the Mexican Foreign Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, academics and representatives of civil society organizations contribute their views on civil society as a political actor in the fields of politics foreign affairs, bilateral diplomacy, multilateralism and the global agenda. In the same way, its relationship with the ministries of foreign affairs, its influence on decision-making and its impact on national development and in the international arena are discussed.