Mexico Authoritarian democracy in a developed nation with severe inequalities

Mexico

Authoritarian democracy in a developed nation with severe inequalities

Brief History in 3 Segments

Colonialism (1519 – 1821) Independence until the

Revolution of 1910 (1810 - 1911)

20th Century (1911 – Present)

Colonialism

Cultural Heterogeneity Began as Amerindians

controlled by the Aztecs from Tenochtitlan

Spanish conquistadors (Hernan Cortes) brought it under Spanish control

Population is now 60% Mestizo, with more Amerindians living in the south

Colonialism

Catholicism Spanish missions became population centers

Economic Dependency Colony depended on Spain for all resources Spanish mostly ignored (never explored)

Mexico’s vast natural resources

Independence (1810 -1911)

Miguel Hidalgo led a popular rebellion against Spanish rule in 1810 Formal recognition of independence from Spain comes

in 1821 Characteristics of the new country

Instability – absence of Spanish hierarchy Rise of military – high ranking generals often served

simultaneously as president (known as Caudillo) Domination by the U.S. – instability of its southern

neighbor leads U.S. to challenge Mexican land claims Liberal vs. Conservative Struggle – ideals of popular

democracy clash with colonial style authoritarianism

Miguel Hidalgo

“Father of the Mexican Nation”

Loss of Territory 1836-1848

North Texas declared independence in 1836 Armed conflict had started in 1835

Texas annexed by USA in 1845 US policy makers wanted to extend US control farther

west 1847 – US invaded Veracruz 1848 – Treaty signed; $18 million

Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California and parts of Colorado

Independence (1810 -1911)

The Porfiriato (1876 – 1911) Porfirio Diaz staged a military coup in 1876

and became president promising one term in office

Characteristics Stability Authoritarianism – no power sharing beyond

small group of elites Foreign investment, economic growth – primarily

from the U.S. Growing gap between rich and poor

Porfirio Diaz

President of Mexico,

1876-1880

1884-1911

20th Century

1910 Revolution Reformers sought an end to Diaz’s rule, Diaz

blocked any creation of a presidential election Support grew for General Francisco Madero,

Diaz was forced to abdicate in 1911 Characteristics from 1910 to 1934

Chaos Warlordism Popular uprisings

20th Century

Influences of the Era Patron-Client System

Caudillos (political-military leader) challenge each other for power

Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa led peasant armies in separate rebellions

Many assassinations between caudillo followers Constitution of 1917

Established democratic elections (3 branches of gov’t) did not end violence or assassinations

20th Century

Influences of the Era Conflict with the Catholic Church

Liberals believed church was an instrument of authoritarian conservatives, restrict church activities, priests fought back

Establishment of the PRI Caudillos all came together under one political

party Pass power between each other in single 6 year

terms (sexenio) Other leaders get major positions in government

20th Century

The Cardenas Presidency (1934-1940) Redistribution of land – ejidos given to peasants Nationalization of industry – foreign business owners

were kicked out and taken under government control Protected domestic industry through import

substitution industrialization (ISI) – high tariffs Investment in public works – roads, electricity, other

public services Encouragement of peasant and union organization Concentration of presidential power, peaceful transfer

to the next caudillo

Lazaro Cardenas

President of Mexico

1934-1940

20th Century

Pendulum Theory – after Cardenas, President Aleman returned to a market driven economy, and the next president returned to Cardenas-style policies, and so on…

Pendulum ended in 1970s with the rise of technicos – educated business oriented leaders who favored the free market

1980s characterized by neoliberalism – free market, balanced government budget, privatization of industry, limited government Results in “Mexican Miracle” – spectacular GNP

growth through the early 1980s Conflict develops between politicos (old elite of the

PRI) and the technicos

Cleavages in Mexico

Urban vs. Rural – Mexico is 75% urban Urban voters are less likely to support PRI

Social Class – Gini coefficient of .50 Poorest 10% has 1.6% of the money Richest 10% has 35.6% Middle to upper income earners likely support PAN

Mestizo vs. Amerindian – 30% see themselves as Amerindian Amerindians are more likely to live in impoverished

rural areas

Cleavages in Mexico

North vs. South North is dry and mountainous Trade with U.S. has enriched the north

(NAFTA) North is more likely to support PAN South has not benefited from NAFTA Zapatista movement based in the south

Government Institutions

Mexico is a Federal Republic – considerable power at the national and state levels

Historical distribution Presidency dominated the power structure Legislature and judiciary acted as “rubber stamp” for

executive decisions Constitution of 1917 is modeled on the U.S., with

checks and balances, 3 branches, federalism Tended towards authoritarianism through 20th

century, despite the constitution Modern description would be “strong presidential

system”

Executive

President elected every 6 years, can serve one sexenio (6 year term) Cardenas started this tradition (1934-1940)

Under the PRI, incumbent would select the successor, appoint all powerful bureaucratic officials, name candidates for governor and Senate President was effectively the manager of a massive

patron-client system PAN’s Fox was the first to try and govern without the

patron-client PRI system behind him (2000-2006) People in Mexico still view the president as all

powerful, and responsible for all failures of government Fox lacked support of the legislature, was still blamed

for failing to enact programs

Bureaucracy

1.5 million employees of the federal government Paid very little, but even low to mid level bureaucrats

have considerable power PRI officials would use position to boost their incomes

through corrupt practices… most expect it to occur today as well

Para-Statal entities – autonomous governmental agencies PEMEX – state owned oil company Fox pushed for privatization of entities like PEMEX but

failed

Military

Generals dominated politics through the 19th and early 20th century All presidents were generals through 1940s

Creation and centralization of power into the PRI brought the military under control

Presidents Calles and Cardenas rotated generals’ regional commands, effectively depoliticizing the military Often provided generals with business opportunities and

other economic benefits to keep them out of politics Military is now feared to be accepting deals with drug cartels,

similar to the arrangement they used to have with the government General Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, head of anti-drug force,

arrested in 1997 for protecting a drug lord

Judiciary Follows code law, not common law

Common law – based on tradition, past legal precedents, courts may interpret statutes

Code law – comprehensive system of written rules for criminal, commercial, and civil codes

Judiciary does not have power of judicial review Supreme Court has the power constitutionally, but never

exercises it on important issues Judiciary is not independent

Judges are “appointed for life”, but in tradition, all judges resign at the start of a president’s sexenio so he can place his loyalists on the bench

Zedillo administration (1994-2000) tried to strengthen judiciary by obeying court judgments

Strong judiciary is difficult due to perception that judges are corrupt

Legislature Bicameral Congress

Chamber of Deputies – 500 members Senate – 128 members Functionally similar to U.S. Congress constitutionally, but

was controlled by the president until the 1980’s PRI’s legislative grip was lost by 1988 due to growing

strength of opposition and proportional representation reforms

Lacked a majority for the first time in 1997 Since 2006, PAN and PRD held larger numbers of seats than

PRI Parties are required by law to sponsor 30% women

candidates Challenges the president, but has not fully developed into a

true president “check”

Political Parties

PRI – Partido Revolucionario Institucional In power continuously from 1920 to 2000 Formed out of elites who wished to

compromise rather than perpetuate violence Coroporatist structure – groups were carefully

selected to come under the party umbrella and wield influence

Patron-Clientelism – support comes from rural areas where PRI can do favors

Political Parties

PAN – National Action Party PRI’s opposition to the right Platform

Regional autonomy Less government in the economy Clean and fair elections Good rapport with the Catholic Church Support for private and religious education

Won presidency in 2000 and 2006

Political Parties

PRD – Democratic Revolutionary Party PRI’s opposition to the left Has been poorly organized, lacks a clear

defining alternative to pro-market PAN Led by Obrador, finished just behind PAN’s

Calderon for president in 2006 Obrador finished behind PRI’s Nieto in 2012

Elections

Direct elections for president, Chamber of Deputies, senators, and most state and local officials

Most competitive in urban areas, though competition is growing in rural

Pressure for elections to be fair started in 1988 Population was becoming more urban, educated Mexico sought world trade agreements, led to

international pressure Most recent election changed power balance as PRI

lost heavily in both legislative chambers, PRD gained substantially, PAN gained a little bit

Elections

Presidential “First past the post”

Senate Each of 31 states elects 3 senators

2 chosen through direct election 1 given to party with the 2nd highest number of votes

32 more senators chosen through proportional representation

Chamber of Deputies 300 seats determined by plurality SMD vote 200 determined by proportional representation

Political Participation in Mexico

Patron-Clientelism Rooted in loyalty to caudillos in 19th century Diminishing due to modernization, urbanization, but still

prevalent Accusations by PRD’s Obrador that PAN’s Calderon

won through vote-rigging Protests

Government usually responds with co-optation; bringing protesters into the political process

ex. Tlatelolco Plaza masacre led to student protesters working in the next presidential administration


Voting PRI controlled elections at all levels until reforms in the

1990’s Election day parties with free food, entertainment for

PRI voters, rife with corruption (clientelism) Today around 60-65% of Mexicans vote in presidential

elections (63% in 2012 election) Voter behavior is often determined by

Region – North supports PAN, South supports PRD Education Level – Higher educated voters more likely

to vote PAN or PRD than PRI Income – Higher income voters more likely to vote

PAN


Civil Society PRI practiced state corporatism – state mediated

among groups to prevent challenges to the government

Created 3 interest groups; labor, peasants, and middle class with each controlled by the PRI

PAN formed around discontented business owners who were not connected to the system (1939)

State corporatism, neocorporatism, and pluralism all could possibly emerge now with the fall of the PRI and rise of competitive elections

Political Institutions

Regime is transitioning from authoritarianism and control to liberal democracy and capitalism

Economically mixed picture PPP adjusted income - $14,800 per year Massive inequality Economic dependency on neighbors Developed? Developing? MIC?

Political Institutions

Transition to Democracy 2000 and 2006 saw considerable progress in

political accountability political competition political freedom political equality

Not enough history to demonstrate a consistent trend of democratic practices

Interest Groups

Through co-optation, Mexican private organizations have always been well linked into the government Leads to slow development of civil society

Elements of state corporatism led business elites to get rich through connections, but were not incorporated into the PRI

Labor was accommodated after unionizing, made strong gains from 1940-1982

PAN leans more toward neo-corporatism than PRI

Media

No criticism under PRI rule Government subsidized sympathetic media

outlets Most media revenue came from PRI ads

PAN rule has allowed open media access, domestic and international new agencies “Toallagate” – scandal about overpriced

towels purchased for Pres. Fox’s mansion “Comes y te vas” – “eat and go” instructions

given to Castro during a U.N. gathering became a controversy

Current Issues in Mexico

The Economy Problems

Large gap between rich and poor Rapid, unplanned urbanization Heavy borrowing against high oil prices through the 1970’s…

plummeting price in 1982 caused massive foreign debt (70% of GNP)

Reforms – Begun by president Miguel de la Madrid and the technicos

Sharp cuts in government spending Debt reduction Privatization, tax cutting to invite U.S. businesses into Mexico Oportunidades – government anti-poverty program that gives

free benefits and jobs to those without formal jobs


Foreign Policy Historically bilateral – all focused on the U.S.

This makes for a shaky relationship Increasingly, Mexico asserts itself at the UN and

WTO, among other international forums Drug Trafficking

Campaign by Fox and Calderon to root out corruption has led to massive increase in violence

Regularly involves brutal murders of police Cartels are competing to control distribution into the

U.S.


Foreign Policy Immigration Policy

Mexico supports amnesty for illegal immigrants, guest worker program

Initially supported by Bush, but 9/11 changed American border priorities

Calderon has denounced the building of the border fence, comparing it to the Berlin Wall

Maquiladora and NAFTA Zones in Mexico without customs duties created to

bring manufacturing business Lack of environmental and employment regulations in

Mexico have led to criticism Mexico is also a GATT/WTO member


Foreign Policy War on Terror (Sept. 11, 2001)

Mexican public opinion did not support US invasion of Iraq

Historical suspicion of US invading smaller, sovereign nations

Fox’s gov’t rejected US resolutions Distrust continues over this issue


Ethnic Rebellions Zapatistas – EZLN (Zapatista Army

of National Liberation) protested NAFTA by capturing four towns in Chiapas (Jan. 1, 1994 – day NAFTA went into effect)

Saw NAFTA as exploitation of Amerindians to benefit PRI bosses

Movement is growing in the South, very hostile to the rich, the government, and mestizos


Democracy – 1996 Electoral Reform CFE – Federal Election Commission

Placed restrictions on campaign finance Reduced PRI control of media Bring in international watchers to ensure fair

elections Allow election monitoring by opposition party

Current Issues in Mexico Democracy – 2012 Elections

PRI retook Presidency Enrique Peña Nieto in 2012; fraud protests occurred

Chamber of Deputies

Party Seats +/-

PRI 212 -30

PAN 114 -28

PRD 104 +41

Documents

Mexico Authoritarian democracy in a developed nation with severe inequalities