Case Study: Mexico

What are the key regional characteristics of Chiapas?

Chiapas is one of Mexico’s poorests states, predominantly rural, and home to a large indigenous population facing marginalization and underdevelopment

How did these characteristics lead to the rise of the EZLN?

Extreme inequality, indigenous marginalization, lack of basic services, and opposition to neoliberal reforms like NAFTA motivated the indigenous uprising led by the EZLN.

What happened on January 1, 1994 involving the EZLN?

The EZLN launched an armed rebellion in Chiapas to protest NAFTA and demand indigenous rights.

What were the outcomes of the San Andrés Accords (1996)?

The government agreed to indigenous autonomy, but failed to implement key provisions, leading the EZLN to cut ties with the government.

How has the EZLN's relationship with the government changed since 2001?

After the broken accords, the EZLN rejected political parties, operated autonomously in Chiapas, and later shifted toward electoral engagement without fully joining mainstream politics.

What was the EZLN's political move in 2018?

They backed María de Jesús Patricio Martínez, an indigenous woman, for president to raise awareness, not to win.

What ideational explanation can be used for the EZLN uprising?

Indigenous identity, historical exclusion, and a belief in self-determination fueled the movement's ideology and justified rebellion.

What institutional factors contributed to the EZLN uprising?

The centralized, corrupt PRI-led state and exclusion from democratic processes made armed resistance appear to be the only avenue for change.

What is the current political system in Mexico?

Mexico is a federal presidential representative democratic republic.

Who is the current dominant party, and who is the president (as of recent elections)?

MORENA, a left-wing party founded by AMLO (Andrés Manuel López Obrador), has been dominant since 2018.

How would you characterize the regime under MORENA?

It combines populist elements with centralization of power, efforts to reform corruption, and strained institutional checks and balances.

What is the historical significance of the PRI?

The PRI ruled Mexico for 71 years (1929–2000), creating a dominant-party system known for corporatism and electoral manipulation.

How did the PAN differ from the PRI?

PAN is a conservative party that broke PRI dominance with presidential wins in 2000 and 2006, promoting market reforms and decentralization

What was the PRD’s role in Mexican politics?

The PRD emerged as a leftist alternative advocating for social justice and democracy; it declined after AMLO left to form MORENA

What is MORENA, and how did it rise to power?

Founded by AMLO in 2014, MORENA became the ruling party in 2018 by uniting diverse leftist groups and appealing to anti-establishment voters.

What characterizes Mexico’s political economy?

It is a mixed economy with neoliberal reforms since the 1980s, deep inequality, dependence on trade (especially with the U.S.), and persistent corruption.

What role has NAFTA/USMCA played in Mexico’s economy?

It integrated Mexico into the North American economy, increasing trade and investment but also exacerbating rural poverty and inequality, especially in places like Chiapas.

PRI: Partido Revolucionario Institucional

• Patron client relations

• Heard to define ideologically, usually more conservative but has strong relationship with labor unions

• Core of support in central mexico, north more liberal, south more socialist in terms of political ideology 

How do presidential term limits in Mexico impact executive power and political succession? (TEST ON TERM LIMITS)

Mexican presidents are limited to a single 6-year term, making them "lame ducks" without the possibility of re-election. Historically, this allowed outgoing presidents to handpick successors from their cabinet, concentrating power. Today, checks on executive power and more frequent legislative gridlock limit presidential influence.

How has legislative term limit reform since 2018 affected the structure and function of Mexico's Congress? (TEST ON TERM LIMITS)

Before 2018, Mexican legislators could not serve consecutive terms. Reforms now allow members to serve up to 12 years, potentially increasing experience and continuity. However, the legislature remains bicameral and often gridlocked, with no single party usually holding a majority in the Chamber of Deputies.

What are the term limits for justices on Mexico’s National Supreme Court of Justice, and how are they appointed? (TEST ON TERM LIMITS)

Justices serve a single 15-year term. They are appointed by the president and must be confirmed by a two-thirds vote in the Senate.