1. March 5 – Drug Wars Agenda: Country Briefs Citizen and State
Drug Cartels in Mexico
BBC: Mexico’s Drug War
Take Out
Pen/Pencil
Notebook
HW:
Russia/Mexico Comparison

2. Mexican Political System - Corporatism
Corporatist organizations under the PRI
Example: Confederation of Mexican workers
Recognized by PRI; independent unions repressed
Agreed to limit demands
Limits on wage increases, limits on grievance procedures, limit on right to strike.
Leaders of official federations rewarded by PRI
1980s-90s: 14-22% of Congress Confederation of Mexican Workers
Corporatism: Citizen participation is channeled into state-sanctioned groups

3. Interest Group Activity
Business interests – Ultimately…Elites became wealthy, but not incorporated into PRI.
Labor –Union boss power falls, because unions are accommodated by the system.
Rural peasant organizations – on the rise but co-opted as necessary
Urban Movements – social welfare spending, city services, neighborhood improvements, etc.

4. What would you say about voter behavior before 1990s?
PRI controlled local, state and national elections
Voter rates high because patron-client required political support

5. Situation #2 How might this affect the political
Mexico is now more than 75% urban
Literacy rate 90%
How might this affect the political
system/relationship between
citizen and state?
Voting?

6. Political Participation
Over time, Mexicans have enjoyed widespread freedoms
Religion, press, assembly, to vote, own property or even choose a school
Yet there have been civil rights abuses by the government
Violent strike breaking
Student massacres
Lots of assassinations

7. But…
While they might have been free, until 2000 Mexicans could never turn this freedom into an alternate political power

8. What do you think the future holds for the relationship between citizen and state in Mexico?

9. Mexico Drug Cartels as a Challenge to State Authority
Rule of Law, or Rule of the Narcos?

10. Who do you think is winning the war against drug trafficking?
Source: Reforma Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,515 Mexican registered voters, conducted from Aug. 14 to Aug. 16, Margin of error is 2.8 per cent.

11. 2011 Interactive Map

12. Feb 2014

13. Sinaloa Cartel
The Guardian,  Friday 28 February 2014

14. Juarez Cartel
The Guardian,  Friday 28 February 2014

15. Tijuana Cartel
The Guardian,  Friday 28 February 2014

16. Gulf Cartel
The Guardian,  Friday 28 February 2014

17. Los Zetas Cartel
The Guardian,  Friday 28 February 2014

18. Is this evidence of state failure?

21. "Joaquin Guzman gave jobs, not like you corrupt politicians".
"El Chapo helps companies that support those in need".