STUDENT NOTES - 1 CH. 5 – The United Mexican States

Independence Movement Purity of the Catholic Faith Blood of National Heroes Aztec symbolism in the center – legend tells that an eagle devouring a serpent on a cactus was to be the location of the capitol city

CURRENT POLICY CHALLENGES  Economy produces few jobs  Educational system needs modernization  Impoverished population  Unequal distribution of income  Environmental problems  Barely functioning criminal justice system  Catch up to trade partners/competitors  Modernize agricultural sector  Renovate energy sector  Expand tax base  Change election rules

Why Study Mexico? Constitution of 1917 was model for other progressive movements in Latin America Longest single-party government in the modern world ( ) Political system was very stable during 20 th century Political economy is a classic example of the challenges and prospects of the transition from state-led development to neoliberal economic policy NAFTA – relationship with United States

OVERVIEW System of Government: Presidential…just like America Distribution of Power: Federal System…just like America Electoral System: Mixed System: SMDP and PR Constitution: Constitution of 1917 Legislature: Bicameral - Chamber of Deputies & Senate…just like America Current Head of State: Enrique Peña Nieto Head of Government: Enrique Peña Nieto Current Ruling Party: PRI Major Political Parties: PRI, PAN, PRD

THE MEXICAN STATE Constitutional republic – Currently: DEMOCRATIC REGIME – Formal separation of powers Federal Presidential – Political centralism – concentration of decision making power in pres. – 31 states and Federal District (like US have 50 states plus DC) Each divided into municipios headed by mayor and council (kinda like US into counties/cities) – Each layer of government successively weaker Subunits VERY dependent on national gov (funding) – State governors retain control over resources

G EOGRAPHIC I NFLUENCE Never underestimate the power of simple geography to explain (or create) internal differences in a country. Mexico is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world All this feeds into regionalism in the political culture – Mountains and Deserts = communication/transportation difficult – Varied Climates = size creates different experiences – Natural Resources = create disproportional wealth – A long border with the United States

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE – Originally occupied by the Mayan civilization about 1,000 years ago; civilization then gave way to the Aztecs. – SPANISH COLONIALISM: Spanish incorporated native population into an elaborate hierarchy. – Criollos, mestizos, indigenous – Spanish haciendas formed on huge estates Catholic Church owned 1/3 of the country and forced Catholicism Spanish were not effective colonial leaders and were never able to secure rule throughout the country

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE REVOLUTION OF 1810 – Miguel Hidalgo led rebellion from Parish Priest issued a call for the end of Spanish misrule in 1810 Began a series of wars of independence that lasted for the next 11 years. Between 1833 and 1855 there were 36 presidential administrations Porfirio Diaz A military coup 1876: ruled for 34 years Dictatorship (authoritarian), stable, industrialization – So made some economic progression, but many did not benefit – Foreign influence HIGH (backlash – think about the Shah)

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Countryside - loosely coordinated bands of peasants took up arms Labor - organized series of strikes in mines and mills Cities – liberals rallied behind “revolutionary” Francisco Madero – Won presidential nomination in 1910 under Anti- Reelectionist Party however, Diaz “won” election – CIVIL WAR - Madero gathered supporters, started war against Diaz, who agreed to abdicate.

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, :POWER EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Francisco Madero elected President and was soon assassinated – political order in Mexico collapsed Peasant Revolts – Emiliano Zapata – Francisco (Pancho) Villa – Venustiano Carranza – Demanded agrarian reform – All formed armies of landless peasants and poor industrial workers – 1916, Carranza occupied Mexico City, led to elections and new constitutional assembly

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE 1917 Constitution – Current source of regime and legitimacy – Democratic government, checks and balances, “competitive” elections – Power of church limited, foreigners no longer allowed to own Mexican land or mineral resources 1928 President Plutarco Elias Calles – Could not run for reelection under constitution SO to provide continuity from one presidency to another CREATE A POLITICAL PARTY to control nomination and election – CALLES LEGACY: regulated how succession would occur and instituted one party rule – Mexico still sucked, just wasn’t as violent

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE Creation of Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (1929) Stabilized conflict among leaders by “institutionalizing” one party 70 year reign: the “perfect dictatorship” State and party merged into one Single-party controls access to political offices (ALL) Partido Revolucionario Institucional (CORPORATISM) – Pendulum Theory – back and forth policies brought on by changing PRI leaders – Maintain power/limit revolution by encouraging loyalty – ***Created stable government, BUT cost social reforms – ***Established firm patron-client relationship Notice how closely this resembles the flag

II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER: EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE When you don’t feel like fixing an election… Patron-client relationships (camarillas) aka corporatism – Corporatism contrasts pluralism – People are members of groups that make up society MX: military, peasants, workers, middle class – Leaders of camarillas can be co-opted by material reward (jobs); creates loyalty (votes) Heavy repression/reforms in times of criticism