MEXICO Part 2 1

“The Porfiriato” (1876-1911) Military coup staged by Porfirio Diaz in 1876 promised to serve a single term, instead ruled for 34 years installed the cientificos influences: stability authoritarianism foreign investment and economic growth growing gap between rich and poor competition among elites ended Diaz’s regime with a coup from within  Revolution of 1910 2

the chaotic early 20th century Revolution of 1911 set off a period of warlordism and popular uprisings that lasted until 1934 influences: patron-clientelism Constitution of 1917 conflict with the Catholic Church – the Cristero Rebellion establishment of PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) : stabilized conflict 3

The Cardenas Upheaval 1934-1940 Lazaro Cardenas: ‘the Roosevelt of Mexico’ stabliized and radicalized Mexican politics many changes: redistribution of land - ejidos nationalization of industry investments in public works encouragement of peasant and union organizations concentration of power in the presidency import substitution industrialization state corporatism 4

The emergence of the technicos and the pendulum theory President Miguel Aleman rejected many of Cardenas’ socialist reforms promoted economic liberalization next president shifted emphasis back 1970s: pendulum stopped, technicos took control of the government and PRI : moderate, free-market approach 1980s: neoliberalism: free markets, balanced budgets, privatization, free trade, limited government intervention in the economy the ‘Mexican miracle’: huge GNP growth based on oil, followed by oil bust conflict between politicos and tecnicos 5

citizens, society, and the state camarillas (patron-client networks) are interwoven into the fabric of Mexican politics Clientelism gives the government the upper hand role of the citizen is changing as political parties become more competitive cleavages: social class urban vs. rural mestizo vs. Amerindian north vs. south often cross-cutting, but recently have coincided: urban, middle-class, northern mestizos vs. rural, poor, southern Amerindians

political participation until recently, citizens lived under authoritarian rule by political elite participation characterized by revolution and protest now, increasing participation through legitimate, regular elections patron-clientelism remains an important factor in political participation, but modernization tends to break this up ‘networks’ get blurred in large population centers more formal forms of participation are instituted

co-optation: government responds to citizen demands by protests co-optation: government responds to citizen demands by accomodating their demands and including protesters in the political process major protests: Zapatista uprising Oaxaca pprotest

voting before 1990, PRI controlled elections on local, state and national levels high voting rates required by patron-client system rampant corruption, challengers easily defeated as competing parties began to pull support from PRI, influences on voting patterns can be seen: region education income

civil society long-standing, lively civil society, acceptance of public protest PRI practiced state corporatism divided interest groups into 3 sectors: labor, peasants, middle class each dominated by PRI-controlled groups civil society led to the downfall of PRI and formation of PAN in 1939 disaffection of businessmen not incorporated into the government system led to 2000 election of Vincente Fox PRI’s state corporatism broken up

Political institutions regime type: traditionally, state corporatist central, authoritarian rule that allows input from interest groups outside of government transitioning toward economic and political liberalization in the middle ‘development’ stage

political parties for most of 20th century, Mexico was virtually a one-party state today, 3 parties, and competitive elections are a reality (1) PRI: continuous power 1920-2000 coalition of elites corporatist structure patron-client system lost presidency in 2000 but gained majority in lower legislative house in 2009

political parties, cont. (2) PAN: founded as an opposition party in 1939 created to represent business not included in PRI opposed centralization and anti-clericism strongest support in North regional autonomy less government intervention in economy fair elections rapport with Catholic Church support for private and religious education

political parties, cont. (3) PRD ; PRI’s opposition on the left won 139:500 seats in lower house in 1988, followed by gains in 2006 and losses in 2009 struggled to define a left-of-center alternative to PRI’s market-oriented policies poorly organized current leader: Obrrador, Mayor of Mexico City