STUDENT NOTES #1 CH. 5 MEXICO

Why Study Mexico? Constitution of 1917 was model for other progressive movements in Latin America Longest single-party government in the modern world (1929-2000) Mexico political system was very stable during 20th century Political economy is a classic example of the challenges and prospects of the transition from state-led development to neoliberal economic policy NAFTA – relationship with United States

OVERVIEW System of Government: Presidential Distribution of Power: Federal System Electoral System: Mixed System: SMDP and PR Constitution: Constitution of 1917 Legislature: Bicameral - Chamber of Deputies & Senate Current Head of State: Enrique Peña Nieto Head of Government: Enrique Peña Nieto Current Ruling Party: PRI Major Political Parties: PRI, PAN, PRD

THE MEXICAN STATE Constitutional republic Currently: DEMOCRATIC REGIME Formal separation of powers Federal Presidential Political centralism – concentration of decision making power in pres. 31 states and Federal District Each divided into municipios headed by mayor and council Each layer of government successively weaker Subunits VERY dependent on national gov (funding) State governors retain control over resources

Geographic Influence Never underestimate the power of simple geography to explain (or create) internal differences in a country. Mexico is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world Mountains and Deserts = Regionalism Varied Climates = size creates different experiences Natural Resources = create disproportional wealth A long border with the United States 115,000,000 People

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Originally occupied by the Mayan civilization about 1,000 years ago; civilization then gave way to the Aztecs. SPANISH COLONIALISM: Spanish incorporated native population into an elaborate hierarchy. Criollos, mestizos, indigenous Spanish haciendas formed on huge estates Catholic Church owned 1/3 of the country and forced Catholicism Spanish were not effective colonial leaders and were never able to secure rule throughout the country

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Miguel Hidalgo led rebellion from 1810-1821 Parish Priest issued a call for the end of Spanish misrule in 1810 Began a series of wars of independence that lasted for the next 11 years. Between 1833 and 1855 there were 36 presidential administrations Porfirio Diaz A military coup 1876: ruled for 34 years Dictatorship (authoritarian), stable, industrialization So made some economic progression, but many did not benefit

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Countryside - loosely coordinated bands of peasants took up arms Labor - organized series of strikes in mines and mills Cities – liberals rallied behind “revolutionary” Francisco Madero Won presidential nomination in 1910 under Anti-Reelectionist Party however, Diaz “won” election Madero gathered supporters, started war against Diaz, who agreed to abdicate.

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, :POWER EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Francisco Madero elected President and was soon assassinated – political order in Mexico collapsed Peasant Revolts Emiliano Zapata Francisco (Pancho) Villa Venustiano Carranza Demanded agrarian reform All formed armies of landless peasants and poor industrial workers 1916, Carranza occupied Mexico City, led to elections and new constitutional assembly

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE 1917 Constitution Current source of regime and legitimacy Democratic government, checks and balances, “competitive” elections Power of church limited, foreigners no longer allowed to own Mexican land or mineral resources 1928 President Plutarco Elias Calles Could not run for reelection under constitution SO to provide continuity from one presidency to another CREATE A POLITICAL PARTY to control nomination and election CALLES LEGACY: regulated how succession would occur and instituted one party rule Mexico still sucked, just wasn’t as violent

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Creation of Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (1929) Stabilized conflict among leaders by “institutionalizing” one party 70 year reign: the “perfect dictatorship” State and party merged into one Single-party controls access to political offices (ALL) Partido Revolucionario Institucional (CORPORATISM) Pendulum Theory – back and forth policies brought on by changing PRI leaders Maintain power/limit revolution by encouraging loyalty ***Created stable government, BUT cost social reforms ***Established firm patron-client relationship

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Patron-client relationships (camarillas) aka corporatism Corporatism contrasts pluralism People are members of groups that make up society MX: military, peasants, workers, middle class Leaders of camarillas can be co-opted by material reward (jobs); creates loyalty (votes) Heavy repression/reforms in times of criticism

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Mexican citizens consider government and its power legitimate Sources of Legitimacy Revolution of 1910-1911 and subsequent Constitution Admiration of revolutionary leaders Seen as acceptable path to change, and charisma is highly valued as a leadership characteristic PRI – maintain a perceived sense of legitimacy; façade of democracy Free and open elections Even created electoral reform during times of criticism to make it easier for opposition parties

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE THE CARDENAS UPHEAVAL (1934-1940) Cárdenas was handpicked as Calles successor – Cardenas quickly exiled his former patron Redistribution of Land From haciendados (landowners) to ejidos (cooperative farms) Nationalization of Industry (PEMEX) Produced ¼ of world’s oil; removed foreign firms Concentration of Power in Presidency, called the “perfect dictator”

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Import substitution industrialization High tariffs, subsidies, economic favoritism, state ownership and management “Mexican Miracle” - Fueled strong economic growth for 40 years Oil reserves discovered in 1970s 1970s-1990s economic crisis HUGE DEBT – internal and external Rising inflation Devaluation of peso Mexicans supported PRI b/c of strong economic growth Undermined PRI leverage – helped spur civil society towards democratic reform

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Neoliberalism – free markets, balanced budgets, privatization, minimal government intervention NAFTA (1994) Proposed by President Salinas Signed by Mexico, Canada, US Removed barriers on trade and investment b/t the three countries Economic globalization (US)

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE 1988 presidential election PRI won with 50.4% of vote; marred by allegations of fraud lost gubernatorial elections throughout country 1990s: Federal Electoral Institute Public financing for all party candidates Opposition gained control of Chamber of Deputies (lower house) Opposition party elected mayor of Mexico City

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE PRI appeared to be in state of decomposition BOTTOM LINE: PRI (government) response to human needs (economic, basic needs, civil rights) either slow or nonexistent SO led to DEMAND for a more transparent and efficient democratic system Electoral reforms, media scrutiny (refer to pg. 124 in Wedding book) 2000: PAN candidate Vicente Fox won PRI - Third place finish in presidential election in 2006, but PAN won by less than 1% 2012: back in presidency, but not in Congress Current divided government