1. M E X I C O
Political Culture and Social Cleavages

2. Review of Key Concepts
I. Strong Presidential – non-reelection (sexeno), rule by decree, patronage ex: bureaucracy
II. Federal System; (31 states) Two House legislature; 3 main parties (divided government)
III. Centralized Decision Making (role of the elites)
IV. Civilian Military
V. Weak Judiciary, but reforming (Oral trials since 2008)
VI. Despite decline in voter turnout since 1994 – increase in Civil Society

3. Key Terms - MEXICAN Government
Corporatism – Characteristic of authoritarian or post-authoritarian systems, allows political input from selected interest groups outside the political structure.
Business leaders, labor leaders, other interest groups, peasant organizations – leaders co-opted by the government by giving them positions, voice, etc.   
Accommodation – Agreement amongst elites that instead of resolving conflict by violence/revolution, (thus destabilizing the government) conflicts are resolved through discussion and compromise.

4. Co-optation/Corporatism and Accommodation and (ex: 1968 student protests)

5. Social Cleavages Region (North v. South) Class Gender Urban v. Rural
Ethnicity (Mestizo & Amerindian, Zapatista Uprising in Chiapas)

6. Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZNL)
1994 Rebellion in Chiapas
- Agrarian and Economic Reform
The rural areas felt excluded
from the political process
Guerrilla tactics
1996 Pres. Fox signed a agreement giving the Amerindian communities the right to form local governments

8. Political Culture Characteristics
Collection of beliefs, values, practices that government is based upon
Political Culture Characteristics
1. Strong sense of national identity (revolution)
2. Most Mexicans believe their regime is legitimate.
3. Less respect for democracy and human rights; Legacy of Authoritarianism
4. “Conflict Adverse” (avoid fighting)
5. Patron-Clientalism (subjects not participants; in a slow decline – Why?)
6. Economic Dependency (80% of exports go to the U.S, foreign debt, IMF)
7. Male Dominance
8. Love/Hate Relations with the U.S. (immigration, drugs, guns, trade)

9. What does this tell us about the political culture of Mexico?
Front page of the
newspaper 3/26/12
Advertisement for the
Government

10. Political Culture Class PPT
Collection of beliefs, values, practices that government is based upon
Political Culture Class PPT
Directions: Go to
Summarize your assigned trend of political culture in Mexico described on pages 482 – 483. (We will do trend #1 together.)
Using the provided charts, cite 1-2 pieces of evidence to support and elaborate on your summary.
Then write 4 comparative statements that either compare or contrast the countries we have studied in AP Gov this year to your assigned trend in Mexico. You must use each country at least once highlighting a specific example from the US, UK, Russia and China.
Be ready to present!

11. Collection of beliefs, values, practices that government is based upon
Political Culture
EX: Trend #1 Nationalization
In Mexico, there is a very strong sense of nationalism among almost all Mexicans which is similar to China’s belief of national superiority.
In Mexico, there is a very strong sense of nationalism among almost all Mexicans which is different than in the UK, where there is a strong movement among the Scottish to break away from the UK and become an independent nation.

12. http://tinyurl.com/mexicopc5th Political Culture
Collection of beliefs, values, practices that government is based upon
Political Culture
Divide up the work and work efficiently!
One person should type & get a computer (USE GOOGLE CHROME)
One person is in charge of the data
One person will report your findings to the class