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Politics in Mexico

Politics in Mexico. Mexico. Population 109 million 1/3 the population of US Spanish, Amerindian Roman Catholic land area 2 million km 2 1/5 the size of US. Colonial rule & independence. Ancient Amerindian civilizations 3 centuries of Spanish rule war of independence 1810 - 1821.

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Politics in Mexico

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  1. Politics in Mexico

  2. Mexico • Population • 109 million • 1/3 the population of US • Spanish, Amerindian • Roman Catholic • land area • 2 million km2 • 1/5 the size of US

  3. Colonial rule & independence • Ancient Amerindian civilizations • 3 centuries of Spanish rule • war of independence 1810 - 1821

  4. War between Mexico & U.S. • US invaded in 1847 • Mexico City was occupied • Mexican lost most of its territory

  5. Revolution & new constitution • Mexican Revolution (1910 - 1920) • overthrew 3-decade dictatorship by Diaz • new constitution of 1917 • state control of all natural resources • subordination of the church to the state • government’s right to redistribute land • labor rights • most provisions not implemented until ’30s

  6. PRI dominance (1929-2000) • Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) • established by then president in 1929 • a mechanism for • resolving conflicts • sub-national personalistic political machines • co-opting newly emerging interest groups • legitimating the regime through elections • most stable regime in Latin America

  7. Democracy or not? • 1950s and 1960s • one-party democracy • incomplete political development • 1960s and 1970s • government’s massacre of student protesters • authoritarian system • subject to qualifications

  8. Democracy or not? • part-free, part-authoritarian system • has long defied easy classification: • “selective democracy” • “hard-line democracy” • or “modernizing authoritarian regime” • partly competitive elections • not necessarily fair and honest

  9. Turnout in national elections

  10. Authoritarian regime • Governments were more committed to • maintaining political stability • maintaining labor discipline • than to • expanding democratic freedoms • protecting human rights • mediating class conflict • electoral fraud and selective repression

  11. Pragmatic authoritarian regime • Institutional system, not personalistic • leadership renewal and executive succession • inclusion and co-opt • leaders of potential dissident groups • new organizations for emerging interests • repression • student protests in 1960s and 1970s • leftist militants in 1970s and 1980s

  12. Constitutional structure • On paper, Mexican government is much like the U.S. government • presidential system • 3 branches of government • legislative, executive, and judicial • checks and balances • federalism • autonomy at the local level

  13. Federal system • Federalism enshrined in 1917 constitution • often political centralism in practice • concentration of decision-making power • level of govt. / share of public spending • Federal government 80% • Federal District & 31 states 16% • 2,401 counties 4%

  14. In practice • Until late 1990s, Mexico’s system of government was very different from U.S. • highly centralized decision making • few restraints on President’s authority • President dominated legislature and judiciary • PRI controlled • both houses of the federal legislature • most public offices (political appointees)

  15. PRI’s political control • Corporatist system of interest representation • relate citizens and social sectors to the state • state-sanctioned organizations

  16. PRI’s political control • PRI itself was divided into 3 sectors • labor sector • peasant sector • popular sector • other organizations were affiliated with PRI

  17. Decline of PRI • From 1988 to 1991 PRI’s control of the Congress was significantly weakened • 260/500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies • 60/64 seats in the Senate • 1993 electoral reform • expanded opposition parties presence • in both Senate and the Chamber of Deputies • divisions within PRI

  18. PRI’s dilemma • Transform from an official government party to a competitive political party • older, less educated, and low-income voters

  19. Opposition parties • National Action Party (PAN) • urban middle class • also attracted conservative peasants and urban working class • large cities in Mexico • except Mexico City • Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) • Mexico City mayor

  20. Mexican Chamber of Deputies Elections(% seats won) Source: Politics in Latin America, p. 348

  21. Mexican Presidential Elections(% popular vote)

  22. 2000 presidential election • PAN candidate Vicente Fox won • PRI’s 71-year monopoly over presidential power in Mexico came to an end

  23. 2006 presidential election • Calderon (PAN) 36% • Obrador (PRD) 35% • Madrazo (PRI) 22% • Obrador and his supporters alleged that the election was rigged • Calderon took office in December 2006

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