1. MEXICO Part 3

2. Competitive party systems BritainRussiaMexico Type of system multi-party Relationship to the legislature 2 parties dominate the legislature 1 party dominates the legislature 3 parties represented in the legislature Relationship to the executive 1 party dominates the executive Unclear patterns, appears competitive Types of parties parties on left, center, and right; regional parties relatively strong parties of power common; party in previous one- party system is still competitive parties on left and right; party in previous one- party system is still competitive

3. elections  direct election of president, Chamber of Deputies representatives and senators   typical voting patterns: – PRI: small town or rural, less educated, older, poorer – PAN: north, middle-class professional or business, urban, better educated, religious – PRD: younger, politically active, from central states, some education, small town or urban, some middle class/older supporters 

4.  elections, cont.  elections are most competitive in urban areas  under PRI control, elections considered fraudulent; pressure since 19898 to have fairer elections  competitive elections have generated coalitions to the left and to the right of PRI, but may also encourage gridlock

5.  electoral system:  president: elected through ‘first-past-the- post’ (plurality) system  members of congress: dual system of first- past and proportional representation – introduced in a major reform law in 1986, gave power to parties challenging PRI’s control  each of 31 states elects 3 senators, plus 32 seats determined nationally  lower house (Chamber of Deputies): 300 seats determined by plurality within single- member districts, 200 by proportional representation

6. Government institutions  Mexico: a federal republic  traditionally, executive has dominated  constitutionally, Mexico’s government structure resembles USA: – 3 branches of government, checks and balances, some direct election – unlike USA, Mexico’s constitution easily amended

7.  the executive: – since formation of PRI, policymaking centered on Presdient – through patron-client system, president was virtual dictator for his sexenio  selected his successor, made all appointments to positions of power in government and in PRI, named candidates for state and local offices  the bureaucracy: – extremely large – paid very little, but those a high levels have much power – under PRI, parastatal sector was huge  number is now decreasing, but Fox’s efforts to privatize PEMEX were unsuccessful

8.  the legislature: – bicameral  128-member Senate, 500-member Chamber of Deputies  all directly elected (senators for 6-year term, deputies for 3-year term) – PRI lost influence over legislature as well as presidency – number of women in both houses has risen significantly  the judiciary: – Mexico does not yet have an independent judiciary or any system of judicial review – Constitution is easily amended – federal and state courts, but most laws are federal – movement toward independent judiciary and role of courts in protecting basic freedoms

9.  the military: – dominated Mexican politics throughout 19 th and early 20 th centuries – PRI credited with de-politicizing the military – tendency to dole out favors to the military  led to strong ties between military officers and the drug trade

10. policies and issues  the economy:  collapse in 1982  improvement  nosedive after global economic crises of 2008  standard of living increased greatly since 1940s, but gap between rich and poor still wide  the “Mexican Miracle”: 1940 - 1960 – economy grew by > 6% annually – industrial production rose 9% annually – agriculture’s share of total production dropped from 25% to 11% – manufacturing rose from 25% to 34% – little inflation

11.  economy, cont. – problems:  income maldistribution  rarid and unplanned urbanization  growth based on oiol –Mexican government borrowed heavily on expected continued high oil prices  Mexico’s economy plummeted along with oil prices in 1980s  debt exceeded $100 billion (70% of GNP) – dramatic turnaround  sharp cuts in government spending  debt reduction  privatization – economy has diversified, less dependent on oil – efforts to privatize, reform PEMEX stalled

12.  foreign policy: –Mexico’s foreign policy more focued on USA than any other country, but Mexican leaders have recently asserted themselves in international forums  maquiladora and NAFTA: – 1960, manufacturing zone created in northern Mexico near USA border  produced consumer goods for U.S  plants created to transform imported, duty-free components or raw materials into finished industrial products – NAFTA: signed in 1995, eliminated trade barriers

13.  foreign policy, cont. – other trade agreements intended to globalize Mexico’s economy and pay off debt:  GATT/WTO – General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade – multilateral agreement, promotes freer trade mong countries – WTO created from GATT  NAFTA: goal – more closely integrate economies by eliminating tariffs and reducing restrictions on international expansion of companies  immigration policy: –NAFTA does not allow free flow of labor across borders – Mexico seeks guest worker program, increased visas amnesty – USA: post-9/11 security risks, public opinion

14.  drug trafficking: – major problem for both countires – Mexico: massive corruption, massive violence, massive profit  ethnic conflict: – EZLN began in 1994 in Chiapas in protest to the signing of NAFTA – demands: jobs, land, housing, health care, education, independence – President Fox continues negotiations  democratization and electoral reform: – reforms in 1990s – CFE: independent regulatory body – 1994: assassination of PRI candidate – replacement of PRI leadership