Latin American (re)Democratization Lecture

Similar systems in North and South America

Both were colonized by European powers

Bother were settler colonies

Indigenous populations were wiped out

Different systems

North America was ruled in a more decentralized way

The Catholic Church was a big part of South America

More mixing of colonial and Indigenous cultures in the South

Political economy

Southern countries were much more unequal postcolonialism in terms of land distribution

South America relied on cash groups and extractive mining

North America relied on trapping, free farming, and trading

Intense inequality in South America leads to socialist parties

Perils of Presidentalism

Too rigid

Prone to political deadlock

Winner takes all system is polarizing

Prone to presidential coups

Monroe Doctrine

Warned against European powers colonizing in the South, stating that the US would view this as a hostile act, 1823

Roosevelt Corollary

1904, the U.S would intervene in countries in the Western hemisphere to maintain political and economic stability, ex.military support, and fend of foreign aggression

Cold War

1945-90, US policy of containment applied to Latin America, “Support free peoples”, it is estimated that the US made over 56-60 interventions in LA often to support the overthrow of democratically elected leaders, or in support of dictators who promise to oppose socialism

1911-1917 in Mexico

Mexican revolution, conservative military wing Zapata's band of Indigenous rebels, Villia's rebel group in the North, and the constitutional democrats in the capital, the constitutional wing wins but gives concessions to the poor in the constituiton

Mexico's constitution of 1917

Very progressive for the time, “Mexicanizes” the economy, very strict separation of church and state (lacitié), universal suffrage, enhanced labor reforms

Institutions in the constitution

President is elected to a 6 year non-renewable term

Federal system (32 states + Mexico City)

Bicameral legislature, mixed system of election

Supreme court appointed by the president, serves one 12 year term

How did the PRI stay in power so long

Corporatism-party machines promising jobs and subsidies

Ideologically flexible

Electoral corruption when necessary
Coercion, limited but it did occur, ex. 1968 massacre of Olympic protesters