Untitled Flashcards Set

Mestizo

A term referring to people in Mexico who have both indigenous and European ancestry.

Amerindian

A term that combines American and Indian and refers to indigenous people in North and South America.

Indigenous groups

Groups of people who settled a land first, before anybody else; in Mexico, they include the Maya and the Nahua.

Maquiladoras

Factories located near the US-Mexico border that take imported materials to make goods or services for export.

Coup d’etat

A sudden, forceful, and violent overthrow of the current government, typically by the military.

Anticlericalism

Opposition to the church having power or influence in politics, significantly restricted by the 1917 Mexican Constitution.

Ejidos

Land grants enacted by President Lázaro Cárdenas as part of land reform following the Constitution of 1917.

Ejidatarios

Mexicans who utilize the ejidos granted by the government for agricultural purposes.

Clientelism

A system where political parties provide benefits in exchange for votes.

NAFTA

A trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico that promoted free trade and eliminated tariffs.

Zapatista Uprising

An armed rebellion in Chiapas fighting for indigenous rights and opposing neoliberal policies.

NICs (New Industrialized Countries)

Countries, like Mexico, that are experiencing high economic growth and are close to becoming developed.

Corporatist state

A state with a corporatist system where a few main interest groups influence government policies.

Civil Society

Citizen participation and organizations outside the government that advance interests; threatened by violence and corruption in Mexico.

State capitalism

Government control of industries highlighting protectionism and high tariffs, often linked to mercantilism.

ISI

Import Substitution Industrialization; an economic policy aimed at protecting Mexican industries through high tariffs.

Green revolution

A period of agricultural innovation in Mexico that dramatically increased crop yields through various advancements.

Informal sector

The unregulated economy, including the black market, involving over a quarter of the Mexican labor force.

PR (Proportional Representation)

An electoral system where political parties gain seats based on their percentage of the popular vote.

Sexenio

A six-year term served by Mexican presidents, after which they cannot be re-elected.

National Electoral Institute (INE)

Replaced the Federal Electoral Institute in 2014 as part of electoral reforms.

Technocrats

Government officials appointed based on their expertise, skill, or merit.

Parastatal

Industries partially or fully owned by the government; PEMEX is a notable example.

Accommodation

The process of the government accommodating policy proposals pushed by social movements.

PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional)

The Institutional Revolutionary Party that dominated Mexican politics from 1929 to 2000.

PAN (Partido Acción Nacional)

The National Action Party formed in opposition to PRI’s dominance, winning the presidency in 2000.

PRD (Partido de la Revolución Democrática)

A left-leaning political party in Mexico that supports social democracy.

AMLO (Andrés Manuel López Obrador)

Current Mexican president, popular among the population and part of the Morena party.

Constitution of 1917

A constitution that aimed to reduce Catholic Church power, promote federalism, and call for land reform.

Federal Electoral Institute

An independent body created to ensure free and fair elections, reformed by President Peña Nieto.

Municipios

Divided sections of the 31 Mexican states, similar to counties or municipalities.

Patron Client Relationship

A political system where parties provide jobs or rewards for support and votes.

Camarillas

Vast informal networks of loyalty between politicians, often linked to patronage and corruption.

CTM (Confederation of Mexico Workers)

One of the largest labor unions in Mexico, created by the PRI.

Televisa

One of the largest Spanish media companies, previously linked to the PRI.

IRCA (Immigration Reform and Control Act)

A 1986 U.S. act imposing penalties on businesses hiring undocumented immigrants and legalizing many migrants.

PEMEX

A nationalized oil company fully owned by the Mexican government.