Enrique Pena Nieto

Mexico  Themes –Mexicans see history as “Heroic Mexicans fighting against the oppression of the outside world and being betrayed” –Importance of the PRI…institutionalized the revolutionary cause  Anti-clericism  Land reform  Worker’s rights –very important to the US and vice versa –Mestizo nation (Aztec, Mayan, Spanish) –34% of the population is in the political elite –Revolution of 1917 Constitution is very important (Carranza, Zapata, Madero)

Mexico: Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Rich in cultural heritage and resources, yet 40% live under poverty line Gained independence from Spain in 1821 Populist movements emerged during period of nation building, bringing wide political perspectives PRI created monopoly on political power and ruled for nearly 80 years

Mexico’s Political Institutions  Federal System – States have some powers that cannot be taken away for them.  Allows for some local control  Cultural regions – Separation of powers– like the US. Constitution similar to US  Mexico is an example that constitutional theory and political reality are often not the same

Executive-most powerful  Serves for 6 yrs. Only…response to history of dictators  Some rule by decree  Head of state. Formal, figure head, mascot all in one  Head of Government-official policy making  Responsible for foreign affairs, creating government agencies, and issuing legislation  President builds administration through appointees, who in turn make their own appointments

Legislative  National Congress: bicameral with members limited to one six-year term  Political monopoly of the PRI made the legislature a virtual “rubber stamp” until the 2000 election  Genuine coalition government formed during President Fox’s term in office

Political Institutions Cont. Judicial branch: –Structured much like the judiciary in the U.S. –Justices and judges appointed by the president with consent from the Senate The bureaucracy: –Built on a system of patronage starting at the executive branch –Most civil servants loyal to their patron, not their job

Political Institutions part 3 Military has mostly concerned itself with enforcement and defense Local governments constitutionally and financially subordinate to national government Patronage system deeply ingrained in local politics

Mexico: Citizens, Society, and the State Several significant cleavages: Ethnic, Geographic, Economic Social classes (in ascending order): –Rural farmers and Amerindians –Urban poor and unskilled workers –Working class –Middle class –Upper-middle class –Rich landowners

Interest groups and influence: Prior to 2000 election, the PRI could counter the effects of opposition groups Part of the patron-client system Most influence done within the party and/or at the local level National government selects schools’ curricula Voting mandatory and many Mexicans politically active Mexico’s political culture has been marked by violence Mexico: Citizens, Society, and the State (continued)

Mexican Politics in the 21 st century  Mexican Poverty-not as extreme as Africa or India, but some Mexicans have pretty grim existence  Impact of the US –No longer direct interference, more influence  PRI’s stranglehold on politics shaken

Mexican History  similar to other Central and S.A. –Spanish or Portuguese colonization –Independence –Tumultuous history afterward…Mexico’s case, much US interference –Cardenas ( ), last revolutionary president.  Nationalized oil and other business  Redistributed land

Political Culture  Very real sense of national identity –Common language, mass culture, and history (blending of Spanish/Aztec culture from 16 th century both had authoritarianism and corruption)  Most Mexicans feel the regime is legitimate ( ) –Word revolution is seen as positive. PRI uses it as much as possible –Revolutionary process=leaders charismatic, messianic  PRI uses this to build support for strong presidency  Male dominance in all areas of life –Women’s education and entry into work force threatens this  Strong Camarillas (patron client relationships)=urbanization and education weakens this

Political Participation  PRI-hold on power –Constitution gave freedoms of liberal democracy –Freedom of expression, but limited opportunities to turn dissent into political power –Turned clientelistic social structure into an umbrella organization that shaped what people did politically  Buy votes (directly or by benefits to a neighborhood),  Loyal party workers given jobs  Corporatism (business/labor/govt. meets to coordinate policy) in Mexico and 3 rd world this is the way people integrated via patron/client relationship  PRI leaders not held together by ideologies but by a desire for wealth and power

 PRI loss of power –Severe economic problems –Real functioning Federal Electoral Institute supervise voting –Social Unrest  PAN=drawn from mostly Catholics and business people that found Cardenas too radical –Fox=charismatic 1 st non PRI pres in 70 yrs –Calderon=Fiscal and social conservative.”  PRD- more left. Calls for a return to revolutionary ideals. Populist themes.

Issues that make public policy difficult to implement: –PRI’s legacy still evident in Mexican politics –Rise in influence of other political parties –Legislative coalitions of opposition parties Important issues to address: –Expanded economic growth –Global competition –U.S. immigration policy –Drug trade