The Mexican State

Citizens, Society, and the State Cleavages: Urban v. Rural Social Class: Gini coefficient is high, (.50). Economic inequality is high Mestizo v. Amerindian North v. South

Political Culture What is the link between Mexican culture and Mexican political institutions? Mexican political culture sustained PRI domination-Why? Mexicans are highly supportive of the political institutions that evolved from the Mexican Revolution, and they endorse the democratic principles embodied in the Constitution of 1917 Historically, Mexicans tolerated corruption in government as a price to be paid in order to extract benefits from the system. Drug related corruption in the 90’s reduced tolerance of corruption in government Social and Economic changes eroded many core traditional values which helped produce a more democratic Mexico in 2000

Political Culture Unifiers: Language Religion History National Identity Mass Culture

Political Culture Women play minor role in Mexican Politics Strong values associated with machismo Urbanization, more women in the workforce (30%). Will it change the political culture? Camarillas- Patron-Client Networks which extend from the party elite to vote-mobilizing organizations (PRI losing control as more are educated and urbanization occurs)

Political Culture 4 Sub Cultures Rural Indians who do not speak Spanish (10%) not active in politics Older, poorly educated, rural, lower class, and female- “Subjects” reasonably aware of what the government is doing. Tolerate the system, assuming they can do little to change it. No political efficacy. Regime’s supporters- Those who benefit from the system. Few of them. Anti- PRI- emerging and growing

Political Participation Constitution: Grants basic freedoms Universal Suffrage (18) No interference with religion, travel, private property, schools Open press, debate History of Human Rights violations (Strikes, Battle of the Streets) Limits Mexico as a Democracy

Protests When citizen demands have gotten out of hand, the government accommodates their demands and includes them in the political process through co-optation. (the tactic of neutralizing or winning over a minority by assimilating them into the established group or culture) 1968 protests by students in Tlateloco Plaza resulted in the death of 200 students. The next president recruited large numbers of student activists into his administration and increased spending on social services, which provided jobs for many young people.

Protests 1994: Zapatista uprising Poor Chiapas region Disaffected Amerindians 2006: Oaxaca uprising Teacher strike escalated to include other groups Went on for months PRI Governor Ulises Ruiz won through corruption, escalates tensions Fox sends in troops during last month in office Ruiz still in office Ongoing issue

Linkage Institutions Political Parties, the media, and interest groups all worked to link Mexican citizens to their government. Linkage took place under PRI umbrella As democratization took place, civil society and linkage institutions also developed Because the structure of civil society and linkage institutions were in place, activating democracy was easy

Political Participation Comparatively, Mexico is not repressive. PRI used means other than violence to stay in power (voter fraud) Election Day: Very Festive. Free food if you voted for the PRI High voter turnout: (Before 1988, PRI inflated turnout numbers, hard to measure) 1994- 78% 2000- 64% 2006- 60%

PRI Mexico seen as “semidemocratic” State Corporatism: state mediated among different groups to ensure no one group successfully challenged the government or party PRI violated democratic principles to stay in power Bought votes, stuffed ballot boxes, etc Controlled the Federal Election Commission- Electoral Alchemy: The way Mexican’s have used fraud to rig elections An elaborate network of Camarillas: 15 million members Members drawn to the PRI by their desire for power, not ideology Reminiscent of the political machines in the US during the late 19th century (Boss Tweed)

PRI Before 2000, PRI never lost a presidential election. Before 1997, never lost control of the Chamber. Controlled 95% of Mexico’s 2000 municipalities. PRI lost Mexican vote for first time in 71 years Reasons: Always had groups who refused to cooperate with PRI Civil society- Disconnected business men who where not incorporated the government system Formed PAN What will be next? State corporatism? (state controls interests) Neocorporatism? (where interests, not the government controls) Pluralism? (Independent interests have input, but don’t control)

Elections Today (2000-2006) End of PRI rule 1997- change in electoral system reflected honest voting, gave opposition parties more seats = higher voter turnout (publicly funded elections) Corporatism eroding - describes the way Mexicans are integrated into the political system via patron-client relations Factors that influenced the 2006 election: Region- North 47% PAN, 27% PRI, 24% PRD and Mexico city region: 44% PRD Education: Educated- PAN 42% of college educated and 38% for PRD Income: Upper Income PAN 50%, 30% PRD

Elections Today (2000-2006) Corporatism- developed through trade unions. Until recently, all workers belonged to a trade union or organization. (quasi-official). PRI solidified support in 3 ways: Provided tangible benefits- land redistribution, healthcare Tied poor Mexicans who were powerless to the regime- limited protest Gave the PRI a pool from which to recruit leaders at the grassroots level. Gave hope to many workers. PRI’s hold diminished as the economy of the 80’s worsened. Well educated did not join PRI. 2000- charged $92 million in illegal campaign practices and laid off 2/3’s of its staff. Lost its base supporters. 2002 political comeback?

Elections Similar to Germany Electoral law combines single-member districts and proportional representation for the Chamber of Deputies. 500 Seats. 300- plurality, or single member districts. 200- proportional to party representation. (31 states and Mexico City) The Senate has 128 directly elected members (3 from each of the 31 states and Mexico City) The President is elected in a first-past-the-post (plurality) system.

Political Institutions PAN National Action Party Only real opposition party to PRI until late 80’s Catholic Church and Business Community, Pro business (Reagan supporter) 1983- won governor of Baja California Norte Charismatic leader- Fox- alliance with the Green’s and left-of-center intellectuals Philip Calderon, President

The PRD Cautemoc Cardenas- founder of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (1989) Son of beloved Lazaro Cardenas Leftist Ran for President in 1988 and 2000. Competed with PRI in the 90’s and Fox’s alliance in 2000 Narrowly lost Presidency in 2006 Controls Mexico City

Women in Civil Society New Mexican Women’s movement Includes not only elite wealthy, but rural poor Local organizations rally around local issues National issues also include: abortion, unequal pay, violence against women Movement Growing as middle class enlarges and economic developments further erode traditional social structures

The Mexican State Fox did not change the system (Did not have the votes in Congress) Similar to US (constitutional theory and political reality are not the same) Presidential System Bicameral Legislature (lower house elected from single-member districts of roughly equal size and an upper house giving each state two seats) Federation Separation of Power (Check and Balances) Unlike the US- Semi-authoritarian and highly stable one-party system because of a number of mostly informal and temporary arrangements that became a lasting part of the Mexican landscape. How the PRI institutionalized the revolution.

Nonreelection and Presidential Domination Real power and policy making held in few hands (USSR) PRI hegemony had 2 vital components Principle of Nonreelection: Inexperienced Congress and State leaders Power in the hands of the president President PRI Congress People

The Executive 6 year terms- only 1 term- a lot of power in a short amount of time Initiate legislation- all bills of importance Issue decrees on a wide variety of subjects (transfer of funds, authorize funds, implement laws) Informal power- Control began before the election, placed his own team in place. (Chosen from the cabinet) Selects all bureaucratic positions Changed in 1999- US style campaign Political life ends when you leave office

The Cabinet, Bureaucracy, and the Judiciary All posts were filled on patron-client relations Today, the President is chosen from the Gobernacion, (internal security and administration of elections, cabinet post) Fox broke tradition by appointing those not loyal to PAN to his Cabinet Government bureaucracy (employs 1 in 5) not based on merit- change posts frequently- high turnover- can’t gain expertise- changing. Large Para- Statal sector- composed of semiautonomous or autonomous government agencies. (Government owned companies would produce goods and services- PEMEX- Reform pushes for privatization)

The Cabinet, Bureaucracy, and the Judiciary Judiciary- Judicial Review (on paper) never overruled a government action. Appointed for life but leave after 6 years

Congress Chamber of Deputies: 3 year terms Senate: 6 year terms, ½ elected every 3 years Rubber stamp: Why? May only serve one term No seniority or expertise Subservient to the President- all about who you know PRI loyalists who were rewarded for years of work 1997 changed the system- PAN and PRD held the Chamber and blocked PRI legislation for the first time (gridlock) Still no majority in either house, will take years to develop interparty cooperation

The Federal System 31 States plus the Federal District (Mexico City) Each state has a governor and unicameral legislature States divided into 2,000 municipalities. Each has a mayor and a municipal council Have little power as the PRI dominates (15% of municipalities and 25% of governorships are controlled by opposition parties) 1997 PRD control in Mexico City PAN controls the North

The Military PRI has historically curbed the power of the military- Depoliticized Disciplined force with professional officer corps Defense and national security Ties to drug lords?

Corporatism and Corruption Bypassed individualism Incorporated groups in a version of corporatism Government created or legitimized organizations similar to interest groups in industrialized democracies but in reality existed to keep the PRI in office Elaborate spoils system All systems/institutions/organizations corrupt Racketeering, kickbacks, and embezzlement routine (PEMEX) Trend: Crack down on corruption

Public Policy Debt and Development: Pre-90’s- Stable government transitioned peacefully from egalitarianism to state-sponsored industrialization (6.5 growth rate until decline in oil prices of the 1980s) Adopted structural adjustment policies Currently, have done little to stop economic decline and widened gap between rich and poor

Debt Early successes: Import substitution: a country should attempt to substitute products which it imports, mostly finished goods, with locally produced substitutes Not a socialist policy- only took over industries for economic reasons Extended infrastructure Nationalization ends 1982 Low taxes/High Tariffs Averaged 6% growth from 1940-1980 (food, tobacco, textiles, machinery, iron, steel, and chemicals-labor intensive) Stable Peso 12.5 = $1 low inflation No socialization programs, high poverty, pollution

Debt The Crisis- Began in the 70’s Unable to begin 2nd stage of industrialization (technology) Mismanagement of key industries (PEMEX) Rapid population growth Huge increase in government spending (Structural Adjustment) Revenues did not keep up with spending (deficits) which led to a large national debt of $107 billion by 1987. (Heavy borrowing) Debt is 16% of GNP Could not retain import substitution Low rate of the peso kept imports out and business abroad more lucrative (capital flight) Oil prices dropped By 1983- had to nationalize banks, inflation at 100% to 150% by 1987 Earthquake in 1985 followed another drop in oil prices

Debt 4 policies to reduce the debt and turnaround the economy: Debt Reduction (loan agreements) Cuts in Government Spending (hurt the poor) Privatization (still controls PEMEX) 24 Billionaires overnight Opening the Economy- NAFTA

Issues: Poverty Immigration Drugs Environment Crime Overpopulation/rapid Growth (1.1.5% growth rate- 2007 CIA Factbook)

In Conclusion Regime Type: State Corporatist Structure: Central, authoritarian rule that allows input from interest groups outside of government. Camarilla system allowed leaders of important groups, business elites, workers, and peasants to serve in high government offices.

In Conclusion Today: Political and Economic Reforms Corporatism still characteristic of policymaking Is Mexican government authoritarian or democratic? Is the economy centrally controlled or operate under free market principles? Direction of Transition- toward liberal democracy and capitalism

In Conclusion Modern government types (modernization theory) have democratic systems and are measured by: Political Accountability: Regular, free, and fair elections Political Competition Political Freedom Political Equality Mexico is in transition between an authoritarian and democratic political system