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STUDENT NOTES #1 CH. 5 MEXICO

STUDENT NOTES #1 CH. 5 MEXICO. Why Study Mexico?. Constitution of 1917 was model for other progressive movements in Latin America Longest single-party government in the modern world (1929-2000) Mexico political system was very stable during 20 th century

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STUDENT NOTES #1 CH. 5 MEXICO

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  1. STUDENT NOTES #1CH. 5 MEXICO

  2. Why Study Mexico? • Constitution of 1917 was model for other progressive movements in Latin America • Longest single-party government in the modern world (1929-2000) • Mexico political system was very stable during 20th 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

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

  4. 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 • Each divided into municipios headed by mayor and council • Each layer of government successively weaker • Subunits VERY dependent on national gov (funding) • State governors retain control over resources

  5. Geographic Influence • 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 • Mountains and Deserts = Regionalism • Varied Climates = size creates different experiences • Natural Resources = create disproportional wealth • A long border with the United States • 115,000,000 People

  6. 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

  7. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER:EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE • REVOLUTION OF 1810 • Miguel Hidalgo led rebellion from 1810-1821 • 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 • PorfirioDiaz • A military coup 1876: ruled for 34 years • Dictatorship (authoritarian), stable, industrialization • So made some economic progression, but many did not benefit

  8. 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 • Madero gathered supporters, started war against Diaz, who agreed to abdicate.

  9. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, :POWEREVOLUTION 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER:EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE • 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

  13. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER:EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE • Mexican citizens consider government and its power legitimate • Sources of Legitimacy • Revolution of 1910-1911 and subsequent Constitution • Admiration of revolutionary leaders • Seen as acceptable path to change, and charisma is highly valued as a leadership characteristic • PRI – maintain a perceived sense of legitimacy; façade of democracy • Free and open elections • Even created electoral reform during times of criticism to make it easier for opposition parties

  14. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER:EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE • THE CARDENAS UPHEAVAL (1934-1940) • Cárdenas was handpicked as Calles successor – Cardenas quickly exiled his former patron • Redistribution of Land • From haciendados (landowners) to ejidos (cooperative farms) • Nationalization of Industry (PEMEX) • Produced ¼ of world’s oil; removed foreign firms • Concentration of Power in Presidency, called the “perfect dictator”

  15. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER:EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE • Import substitution industrialization • High tariffs, subsidies, economic favoritism, state ownership and management • “Mexican Miracle”- Fueled strong economic growth for 40 years • Oil reserves discovered in 1970s • 1970s-1990s economic crisis • HUGE DEBT – internal and external • Rising inflation • Devaluation of peso • Mexicans supported PRI b/c of strong economic growth • Undermined PRI leverage – helped spur civil society towards democratic reform

  16. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER:EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE • Neoliberalism – free markets, balanced budgets, privatization, minimal government intervention • NAFTA (1994) • Proposed by President Salinas • Signed by Mexico, Canada, US • Removed barriers on trade and investment b/t the three countries • Economic globalization (US)

  17. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER:EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE • 1980s: • 1988 presidential election PRI won with 50.4% of vote; marred by allegations of fraud • lost gubernatorial elections throughout country • 1990s: • Federal Electoral Institute • Public financing for all party candidates • Opposition gained control of Chamber of Deputies (lower house) • Opposition party elected mayor of Mexico City

  18. II. SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, POWER:EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN STATE • PRI appeared to be in state of decomposition • BOTTOM LINE: PRI (government) response to human needs (economic, basic needs, civil rights) either slow or nonexistent SO led to DEMAND for a more transparent and efficient democratic system • Electoral reforms, media scrutiny (refer to pg. 124 in Wedding book) • 2000: PAN candidate Vicente Fox won • PRI - Third place finish in presidential election in 2006, but PAN won by less than 1% • 2012: back in presidency, but not in Congress • Current divided government

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