Advanced Placement Comparative Government Mexico Advanced Placement Comparative Government

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Sources of power have fluctuated over time. 16th century to 1821 a Viceroy (appointed by the Spanish king) ruled. Rule was centralized and authoritarian. 1821- mid 20th century, highly unstable. Late 20th century, democratization is reshaping political life.

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power: Legitimacy Most citizens consider their government and its power legitimate. Source of powers: Revolution of 1910-11. Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (formed in 1929 to stabilize political power.) Today, sources of power changing

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power: Three stages of Political Development Colonialism The 19th and early 20th century Current emphasis on economic development Characteristics carried from one era to the next: Authoritarianism Populism: Based on peasant based revolutions (1810, 1910) with charismatic leaders. Power plays/divisions within the elite: politicos vs. technicos. Instability and legitimacy issues

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power: Political Culture Unifiers: Language Religion History National Identity Mass Culture

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Political Culture Women play minor role in Mexican Politics Strong values associated with machismo Urbanization, more women in the workforce (30%). Will it change the political culture? Camarillas- Patron-Client Networks which extend from the party elite to vote-mobilizing organizations (PRI losing control as more are educated and urbanization occurs)

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Political Culture 4 Sub Cultures Rural Indians who do not speak Spanish (10%) not active in politics Older, poorly educated, rural, lower class, and female- “Subjects” reasonably aware of what the government is doing. Tolerate the system, assuming they can do little to change it. No political efficacy. Regime’s supporters- Those who benefit from the system. Few of them. Anti- PRI- emerging and growing

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power: Political Culture Sense of National Identity Religion: Roman Catholic Church has less importance in political matters Patron-clientelism: System of cliques based on personal connections. (Corruption) Economic Dependency: Spain/United States Geographic Influence Mountains and deserts, varied climates, natural resources (oil), long border with the United States, 106 million people, urban population.

Political and Economic Change Authoritarian governments under colonial control of Spain and military dictatorships 19th century populist movements with democratic tendencies. (violence) Early 20th century: period of chaos (Constitution of 1917 ended war, but not violence and established a democracy) Stability regained by resorting to authoritarian tactics. Recently, moving away from authoritarianism toward democracy

Political and Economic Change Lazaro Cardenas (1934-40): Redistributed the land: ejidos Nationalization of industry: PEMEX Investments in public works Encouraged peasant and union organizations Concentration of power in the presidency Import substitution industrialization: state led development State Corporatism still exists- president decides which organizations influence the government.

Political and Economic Change Pendulum Theory: Subsequently, presidents have alternated from Cardena’s type of socialist reform to more free-market policies, until the 1970s. Tecnicos: Educated, business-oriented leaders. Instituted moderate free-market controls. (rotated between modernization and dependency) Neoliberalism 1980s: Free markets, balanced budgets, privatization, free trade, and limited government intervention in the economy.

Citizens, Society, and the State Cleavages Urban v. Rural: 75% Urban Social Class: Gini index .50: high) Mestizo v. Amerindian: 30% Amerindian North v. South: North- wealthy

Citizens, Society, and the State: Political Participation Constitution: Grants basic freedoms Universal Suffrage (18) No interference with religion, travel, private property, schools Open press, debate History of Human Rights violations (Strikes, Battle of the Streets) Limits Mexico as a Democracy

Citizens, Society, and the State: Political Participation Patron Client System: Mexico seen as “semidemocratic”. State Corporatism: state mediated among different groups to ensure no one group successfully challenged the government or party. (PRI) Bought votes, stuffed ballot boxes, etc. Controlled the Federal Election Commission- Electoral Alchemy: The way Mexican’s have used fraud to rig elections An elaborate network of Camarillas: 15 million members Members drawn to the PRI by their desire for power, not ideology Reminiscent of the political machines in the US during the late 19th century (Boss Tweed)

Citizens, Society, and the State: Protests Government usually responds to citizens demands by accommodating their demands through co-optation or including them in the political process. 1994: Zapatista uprising Poor Chiapas region Disaffected Amerindians 2006: Oaxaca uprising Teacher strike escalated to include other groups Went on for months PRI Governor Ulises Ruiz won through corruption, escalates tensions Fox sends in troops during last month in office Ruiz still in office Ongoing issue

Citizens, Society, and the State: Voter Behavior Comparatively, Mexico is not repressive. PRI used means other than violence to stay in power (voter fraud) Election Day: Very Festive. Free food if you voted for the PRI High voter turnout: (Before 1988, PRI inflated turnout numbers, hard to measure) 1994- 78%- 2000- 64% 2006- 60% Factors which influenced the election: Regionalism, Education, Income. (North-wealthy-well educated voted for PAN)

Citizens, Society, and the State: Civil Society PRI practiced state corporatism. Allowed for a growing civil society. Three types of interest groups: Labor, peasants and middle class (popular). Each group was dominated by the PRI. Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic: Autonomous group/criticized the government What next? Neocorporatism- interests not government controls or Pluralism- independent interests have input, but don’t control. Educational Workers’ Union (largest trade union): Negotiates salaries for teachers- a neocorporatist group that has great power over government decisions in education.

Political Institutions Regime Type: until 2006- state corporatist structure- central authoritarian rule that allows input from interest groups outside of government. Leaders of the Camarilla system linked civil society to the government. Transition toward a liberal democracy and capitalism.

Political Institutions: Linkage Institutions Political Parties: PRI: A coalition of elites controlled through the corporatist structure and the patron-client system. Centrist. PAN: Represents business interests opposed to centralization and anti-clericism. Right. PRD: Difficulty identifying an ideology. Left. Andres Obrador Barely lost 2006 election.

Political Institutions: Linkage Institutions Elections: End of PRI rule 1997- change in electoral system reflected honest voting, gave opposition parties more seats = higher voter turnout (publicly funded elections) Corporatism eroding - describes the way Mexicans are integrated into the political system via patron-client relations

Political Institutions: Linkage Institutions Elections: Similar to Germany Electoral law combines single-member districts and proportional representation for the Chamber of Deputies. 500 Seats. 300- plurality, or single member districts. 200- proportional to party representation. (31 states and Mexico City) The Senate has 128 directly elected members (3 from each of the 31 states and Mexico City) The President is elected in a first-past-the-post (plurality) system.

Political Institutions: Linkage Institutions The Media: Media had no power to criticize the government as long as the PRI was in power. Little influence over public opinion. Rewarded by the PRI with special favors. More independent since 1988. May criticize the government.

Political Institutions: Government Institutions Federation Mexico is Federal Republic Fox did not change the system (Did not have the votes in Congress) Similar to US (constitutional theory and political reality are not the same) Strong Presidential System Bicameral Legislature (lower house elected from single-member districts of roughly equal size and an upper house giving each state two seats) Separation of Power (Check and Balances) Unlike the US- Semi-authoritarian and highly stable one-party system because of a number of mostly informal and temporary arrangements that became a lasting part of the Mexican landscape. How the PRI institutionalized the revolution.

Political Institutions: The Executive 6 year terms (sexenio)- only 1 term- a lot of power in a short amount of time Initiate legislation- all bills of importance Issue decrees on a wide variety of subjects (transfer of funds, authorize funds, implement laws) Informal power- Control began before the election, placed his own team in place. (Chosen from the cabinet) Selects all bureaucratic positions Changed in 1999- US style campaign Political life ends when you leave office

Political Institutions: The Bureaucracy All posts were filled on patron-client relations Today, the President is chosen from the Gobernacion, (internal security and administration of elections, cabinet post) Fox broke tradition by appointing those not loyal to PAN to his Cabinet Government bureaucracy (employs 1 in 5) not based on merit- change posts frequently- high turnover- can’t gain expertise- changing. Large Para- Statal sector- composed of semiautonomous or autonomous government agencies. (Government owned companies would produce goods and services- PEMEX- Reform pushes for privatization)

Political Institutions: The Judiciary Judiciary- Judicial Review (on paper) never overruled a government action. Appointed for life but leave after 6 years

Political Institutions: The Legislative Branch Chamber of Deputies: 3 year terms Senate: 6 year terms, ½ elected every 3 years Rubber stamp: Why? May only serve one term No seniority or expertise Subservient to the President- all about who you know PRI loyalists who were rewarded for years of work 1997 changed the system- PAN and PRD held the Chamber and blocked PRI legislation for the first time (gridlock) Still no majority in either house, will take years to develop inter-party cooperation

The Federal System 31 States plus the Federal District (Mexico City) Each state has a governor and unicameral legislature States divided into 2,000 municipalities. Each has a mayor and a municipal council Have little power as the PRI dominates (15% of municipalities and 25% of governorships are controlled by opposition parties) 1997 PRD control in Mexico City PAN controls the North

The Military PRI has historically curbed the power of the military- Depoliticized Disciplined force with professional officer corps Defense and national security Ties to drug lords?

Policies and Issues The Economy: Mexican Miracle: Strong economic growth- 1940-1960 Problems: Ginni index .50%, rapid and unplanned urbanization, and huge debt. (industrialization) Reform: Cuts in government spending, debt reduction, and privatization Ethnic Rebellions: Zapatistas (Chiapas region)

Policies and Issues Foreign policy Drug Trafficking Emigration Policy Maquiladora and NAFTA GATT/WTO NAFTA