AP Comparative Politics Mexico – Day 3 Review

Sovereignty, Authority and Power Began with authoritarian and corporatist structure Today is a LDC that is a transitional democracy Constitution of 1917 is a progressive document that still guides Mexico Most Mexicans consider their government and power legitimate

Political Institutions and History – 1 of 4 Geographic Influences Mountains and deserts Natural resources Long border with USA Large population Spanish Colonialism Ruled by viceroy Rule was centralized and authoritarian Left cultural heterogeneity, Catholicism, and economic dependence Independence to Revolution Led by Hidalgo Left instability and legitimacy issues, the rise of the military, domination by the USA, a liberal vs. conservative struggle, and the Porfiriato Brought cientificos, stability, authoritarianism, foreign investment and economic growth, and a growing gap between the rich and the poor Coup launched against him began Revolution of 1910

Political Institutions and History – 2 of 4 Since 1910 Madero elected but life unchanged and murdered in 1913 Influences from this time were the: Patron-client system - Cliques based on personal connections and charismatic leadership – called camarillas – corruption is a by-product – PRI used this to link its party to the poor Constitution of 1917 - Carranza elected, set up democratic government, three branches, modeled somewhat after US Constitution, has principle of non-reelection, Article 27 (nationalized land, water, subsoil and created PEMEX) and Article 123 (labor rights) were important Conflict with the church – Cristeros Rebellion Establishment of the PRI – set by Calles Lazaro Cardenas Stabilized and radicalized Mexican politics, gave voice to peasants Brought changes like redistribution of land, nationalization of industry, investment in public works, labor rights, strong presidency

Political Institutions and History – 3 of 4 After Cardenas Began Pendulum Theory with new generation of tecnicos Oil bust of 1980s created divisions between tecnicos and politicos 1988 Cuauhtemoc Cardenas led break away from PRI 1994 Luis Colosio killed – opened door for more progressive Zedillo 2000 Election: PRI candidate selected by primary and more transparency in election, Vicente Fox elected but he faced a divided government and economic crisis 2006 Election: PAN’s Calderon beat PRD’s Obrador by less than 1% Overall – is a federal republic; directly elects president, Chamber of Deputies, and Senators; elections in Mexico today are competitive primarily in urban areas; Constitution easily amended Executive – strong, have kept military out of government, serves sexenio, until Zedillo handpicked successor, oversees bureaucracy of 1.5 million

Political Institutions and History – 4 of 4 Legislative – bicameral with 500 Chamber of Deputies and 128 Senators, are directly elected, 1997 PRI lost majority for 1st time in Chamber of Deputies Judiciary – doesn’t have judicial review, has Constitution but not with same legitimacy as US Constitution, has federal and state courts, Supreme Court is highest federal court but hardly ever overrules important government action or policy Political Parties Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) – founded 1929, coalition of elites, led one party dominant system, characterized by corporatist structure and patron-client system, power from small town or rural, less educated, older, poorer National Action Party (PAN) – founded 1939; business interest opposed to centralization and anti-clericism; PRI’s opposition from the right; strongest in the north and believes in regional autonomy, free trade, lower taxes, privatization Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) – founded by C. Cardenas; PRI’s opposition from left; believes in state control of industry, rights of minorities, social services for the poor; gets power from younger, politically active and central states, some education, small town or urban

Citizens, Society, and the State Population is mix of Spanish, natives, slaves, mestizos; most are Catholic; share strong sense of national identification based on common history, dominant religion and language Culture is predominately male dominated and masculine Cleavages Urban vs. Rural – PRI and patron-client system tried to control people but today 75% live in urban areas and less inclined to support the PRI North vs. South – north is more developed, prosperous, conservative with middle class; south is less developed and more liberal, more Amerindians, average income is lower Political Participation Patron Client System – traditional way citizens participated in government, kept PRI in power Protests – Tlatelolco Massacre and Zapatista Uprising Voter Behavior – voting rates very high, corruption abounded, voter rates have declined

Political and Economic Change Early on main beneficiaries of economic growth were large landowners, foreign investors, and Catholic Church so have traditionally supported government Peasants and laborers have tried to bring about social and economic change by pushing for political change – led to Constitution of 1917 Mexican Miracle – rapidly increasing GNP helped orderly transition from authoritarian to democratic government Appears to be in economic and political transition Has begun trade: GATT and NAFTA Election Reform: Campaign finance restrictions Critical media coverage International watch teams Creation of Federal Electoral Institute (IFE)

Public Policy Poor country, lacks safe drinking water for most, inadequate housing and health care but NOT as poor as other LDC Biggest public policy challenges are to stabilize and improve the economy Oil – is an exporter – most comes from PEMEX Drug Trade – strong military tie, strains resources to fight it, causes lack of legitimacy, increased tensions between USA and Mexico Rapid and Unplanned Urbanization – shantytowns with no electricity, running water, or sewers; poor highway planning and no mass transit; pollution, maquiladoras – gives jobs albeit low paying ones NAFTA – had helped industries develop in Mexico and created diverse economy and jobs with rising middle class but new jobs pay poorly and haven't’ ended poverty, hasn’t curbed immigration rate Emigration – attempts to open this up halted by 9/11; plagued with poverty, violence from drug trade so attempt to go north