1. Chapter Fourteen Politics in Mexico

2. Learning Objectives 14.1 List the most serious economic, social, and political challenges currently faced by Mexico. 14.2 Discuss Mexico’s history, focusing on church/state relations and the social upheavals of the twentieth century. 14.3 Describe Mexicans’ conflicted relationship with their political system. 14.4 Discuss the major sources of political socialization in Mexico and how they have changed. 14.5 Discuss the ways in which Mexico’s electoral system has been reformed since the 1990s. 14.6 Describe the branches of Mexico’s government and the changes they have undergone. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

3. Learning Objectives 14.7 Discuss political recruitment in Mexico, focusing on the rise of the technocrats. 14.8 Explain the role of interest groups in Mexico, touching on corporatist and patron–client structures. 14.9 Identify and profile the major political parties in Mexico. 14.10 Describe the effects of Mexico’s policies, focusing on economic development, the distribution of income, the rule of law, the environment, and international relations. 14.11 What recent developments bode well for political stability in Mexico? © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

5. Country Bio: Mexico © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

6. Politics in Mexico 2012 presidential election: 3 viable candidates Nieto (38.2%) Obrador (31.6%) Mota (25.4%) Returned the Partido Revolucionario Institutcional (PRI) to power Economic crisis set stage for massive anti-PRI voting in 2006 Recurrent economic crises 1976-77, 1982-89, 1994-96 © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

7. Current Policy Challenges Economy produces few jobs Aging population Shrinking labor force Public education system Renovate energy sector Drug trafficking © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

8. Historical Perspectives Colonialism and Church-State Relations Conflict between church and state Revolution and its aftermath 1910 Mexico revolution originated with ruling class Diaz’s dictatorship disintegrated into warlordism Constitution of 1917 Principle of state control over natural resources Subordination of church to state Government’s right to redistribute land Rights for labor Took two decades to implement © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

9. The Cardenas Upheaval Elites maintained control during 1930s Lazaro Cardenas (1934-1940) Encouraged urban workers, peasants to demand land, higher wages Wave of strikes, protests, petitions for breaking up large estates Disputes settled by government in favor of labor Nationalization of oil companies Creation of organizations for labor, peasants Reshaped political institutions © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

11. The Era of Hegemonic Party Rule Cardenas political system Remarkably durable PRI became the world’s longest continuously ruling party 1970s concerns arose President Ordaz “dirty war” Execution of 700 alleged enemies of state Discovery of oil, natural gas resources Economic crisis in 1980s Carlos Salinas Chiapas rebellion, Colosio assassination 1994 Zedillo, PRI retained control © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

12. The End of PRI Dominance 1994 election, economic troubles returned Capital flight Deep recession Ex-President Salinas publicly criticized Zedillo/cabinet, went into defacto exile in Ireland Zedillo made Salinas scapegoat for crisis PRI appeared to be in state of decomposition Defeat of its presidential candidate in 2000 Third place finish in presidential election in 2006 Retreated to regional strongholds, status as national party in jeopardy © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

14. Political Culture Mexicans supportive of political institutions that evolved from Mexican Revolution Endorse democratic principles of 1917 Constitution Critical of government performance Pessimistic about ability to affect election outcomes Evaluate candidates on performance Growing distrust of Congress and political parties © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

16. Mass Political Socialization Pre-adult political learning Family Schools Catholic Church Adult political learning Personal encounters with government functionaries and police Proliferation of popular movements Mass media Print media Television © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

17. Political Participation Two broad types: Ritualistic, regime-supportive activities voting, attending campaign rallies Petitioning, contacting public officials to influence allocation of goods or services By law, voting is obligatory Voting turnout Closeness of 2006 presidential vote © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

20. Political Structure and Institutions Modernizing authoritarian regime Hybrid: part-free, part authoritarian Democratic breakthrough election of 2000 Presidential system, 3 branches with checks, balances Federalism with autonomy at local level In practice decision-making highly centralized, president dominates legislative, judicial branches © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

21. Political Structure and Institutions Federalism: A Double-Edged Sword Political centralism 31 states and Federal District Each divided into municipios headed by mayor and council Each layer of government successively weaker Struggle against centralism State governors retain control over resources New federalism © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

23. The Legislative Branch Federal Congress has two houses: 128-member upper chamber, Senate 500-member lower house, Chamber of Deputies Both mixed-member system Some elected by plurality vote Others elected by system of proportional representation Electoral rules for Senate, Chamber of Deputies Mixed-member system complicates creating majorities © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

25. The Legislative Branch Presidential vetoes can take two forms Regular veto: president rejects bill Corrective veto: president requests Congress amend bill Either: Congress can insist on original text of bill by two-thirds vote Powers of Chambers Each has exclusive powers and areas of specialization Party discipline Very strong, each party generally votes as bloc © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

27. The Executive Branch Dominant political actor in Mexico for greater part of twentieth century Possesses broad range of unwritten but recognized “metaconstitutional” powers © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

28. Executive-Legislative Relations 3 key factors: unified government, high party discipline in ruling party, recognition of president as head of party No longer certain, new dynamics have emerged Follow constitutional rather than partisan norms Fox as 1 st opposition president had difficult relations with Congress Calderon had legislative plurality © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

30. Recruiting the Political Elite Recruited predominantly from middle class 1982-2000 mostly people born or raised in Mexico City Postgraduate education, especially at foreign universities, in disciplines such as economics, public administration Kinship ties: political inbreeding © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

31. Interest Representation and Political Control Corporatist system The official party itself was divided into three sectors: Labor Sector Peasant Sector Popular Sector Some groups not need representation through party, but deal with government directly Military, Catholic Church, entrepreneurs Patron-client relationships/networks © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

32. Political Parties The Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI): 1929, appendage of government, now in decline The Partido Accion Nacional (PAN): 1939, center-right, Christian socialism The Partido de la Revolucion Democratica (PRD): 1988, standard bearer of the left © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

34. The Shifting Social Bases of Mexico’s Parties Dramatic shift in 2006 election PRI’s dependable base before 2006 was rural voters, did well with women, older voters. 2006 PRD’s Obrador did best among rural voters PAN did best among urban voters prior to 2006 2006 PRD finished ahead of PRI for urban vote PRD did well among women in 2006 Education, social class mattered less Regional divides seemed to define 2006 election © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

36. Government Performance Promoting Economic Growth, Reducing Poverty Under four recent presidents, neoliberal economic development model Freer rein to market forces Objective: a technocratic free-market revolution Privatization Considerable spending on welfare Segura Popular: health services for unemployed, rural © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

37. Government Performance Establishing the rule of law Greatest failure of all Cannot deal with street crime Citizens’ low expectations that perpetrators will be caught, punished Police forces are major source of crime Remedies: Tighter screening/monitoring police Better pay and training Transparent criminal proceedings © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

39. International Environment Mexico’s proximity to US a major influence Mexican-American War 1846-48: lost half of national territory to US WWII: US needed migrant laborers 2009: 11% of Mexicans living abroad, most in the US US stake in Mexico: political stability, economic development © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

40. Mexico’s Political Future Transition to Democracy: Elections are as democratic, transparent as any other country in Americas Talk of changing Constitution of 1917 to weaken presidency and strengthen Congress Should be classified as a democracy, one of best functioning in Latin America © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.