Mexico

camarillas ( political cliques)

• informal networks of personal loyalty between politicians, business elites, and unions

• part of the PRI regime

• able to sig influence political decisions and deliver votes

chamber of deputies

• lower house in the national congress

• can pass laws, levy taxes, and verify the outcome of elections

• elected through SMD and proportional rep

confederation of mexican workers (CTM)

• dominant labor org under PRI

• got support from gov in return for limiting demands

• been weakened by recent neoliberal economic policies

constitution of 1917

• written by middle class with liberal values

• calls for regular elections and weakens catholic church

• adopted federalism

• barred pres from reelection to prevent dictatorship

• provided protection for Indigenous communal land

• prohibited foreign ownership of Mexican land

Immigration control and reform act (IRCA)

• response to growth in undocumented Mexican immigrants

• put sanctions on employers of the aforementioned

• toughened enforcement of immigration laws

• provided amnesty for long-time Mexican workers

import substitution industrialization

• implemented by PRI

• encouraged industrialization

• high tariffs to protect mex industries and agriculture

• capitalist economy but state played important role in key parts of the economy

informal sector

• indicator of economic inequality

• estimated over one-quarter of Mexico’s workers

• don’t pay taxes but have few protection or benefits

• AMLO

• Divided PRD Between moderates and his supporters

• Formed MORENA, further dividing the left

• was pres

maquiladoras

• factories that import materials or parts to make goods that are then exported

• entry into NAFTA led to increased US investments that fund these

• criticized for not adding much to mexicos economy, wages below average manufacturing wage

• concentrated in the wealthier north, contributing to the regional income gap

mexican miracle

economy grew due to

• peace and stability of PRI regime

• increase of US investment

Result

• Mexico became more industrialized, urban, and educated

• economy became more heavily dependent on US

• Asymmetrical relationship; Mexico relies on US more than Vice-Versa

mexican revolution

a struggle between the dictatorship and

• middle class that wanted a more democratic system with a capitalist economy

• social reformers that wanted agrarian reform

• both wanted to weaken catholic church

MORENA

• founded by AMLO split off from PRD

• left-wing

• reducing inequality, combating corruption, and strengthening social welfare

• economic nationalism, support for marginalized communities, and greater state intervention in key industries like oil and electricity

National congress( legislature)

• bicameral legislature

• Chamber of deputies and the senate

• legislators cannot be reelected for consecutive terms

• lack legislators with a lot of experience

• people reluctant to cross party leadership; depend on them for future positions

• lower house approves of less legislation submitted by executive than in the past

• creates more of their own legislation

National supreme court of justice

• never overturned a law during PRI regime

• now can determine the constitutionality of legislation

NAFTA

• drastically reduced tariffs on many traded between US Mexico and Canada including agricultural goods

• Lowered food prices for consumers but hurting many poor farmers

• worsened income gap between north and south

• exports have dramatically increased

• diversified economy

• reliant on US: sends majority of exports there

• increased maquiladoras

• increased immigration to US for employment

PAN

• began as Conservative response to leftist policies of PRI

• Supports catholic church and pro-business policies

• split between catholic social conservatives and free market-oriented interests

PRD

• formed by leftist groups and former PRI members disillusioned by PRI's corruption and neolib policies

• Progressive Policies: Advocates for reducing inequality, expanding social programs, labor rights, and environmental sustainability.

• reduce corruption in the government

• opposed free-market reforms and privatization policies

• weakened by Morena which took supporters

• has joined coalitions with PAN and PRI to challenge MORENA

patron-client relationships

gov officials deliver state services and access to power ( jobs, money, protection) in exchange for political support ( like votes)

PRI

• Able to maintain political power through patron-client relationships, camarillas, and corporatism

• main focus was staying in power

• would implement socialist and liberal policies

• offered something so every group could benefit from their being in power

• compromise and reform to prevent conflict

• lost power due to economic downturn and corporatist model became less effective and corruption

• repression of students movement

• austerity policies

• democratic reform

• still have sig presence in legislature

PEMEX

• state-owned oil company

• major source of revenue for gov

• losing money as oil production declined

• accumulated large debts

• oil was opened to private investment, losing its monopoly

san andres peace accords

promised protection of indigenous languages and indigenous communities, political autonomy

modified them to weaken rights and autonomy of indigenous before passing it

senate

• upper house

• fewer powers than the lower house

• confirms pres appointments to the Supreme Court, approves treaties, approves federal intervention in state matters

televisa

mexicos largest media conglomerate

was extremely close to the PRI

EZLN( zapatistas)

• Made up mostly of Mayans

• seeking greater autonomy

• end to neoliberal reforms

• democratization of corrupt gov

• land reform

• rejected weak reform ( san andres peace accords)

Challenges

• achieving political order and avoiding violence associated with lack of order ( war against cartels)

• determining the appropriate role of the state in the economy ( opening the economy has led to a wealthier middle class but worsened inequality and fueled immigration to the US)

• Rule of law and transparency vs corruption and one-party rule ( corrupt police force and politicians, low trust in gov)

Historical development

• Mexican independence maintained the status quo

• ruled caudillos

• mex revolution socialists and liberals trying to gain control of the state

• constitution written by middle-class mestizos but influenced by socialist Indigenous peoples

• PRI in power

• Economic crisis caused PAN to win president, liberalize the economy

president

• near absolute power during the PRI reign

• serves on a single 6-year term

• voted through first past the post, leads to a small plurality and opposition-dominated legislature

• presides over and appoints cabinet

• can propose laws and veto bills

• proposes federal budget

• handle foreign policy

local gov

• under PRI mex operated like a unitary gov

• limited autonomy by controlling local funds, now half of tax revenue is delegated to local govs

• local gov was the first opportunity to oppose PRI

Party system

• PRI allowed opposition parties to exist to give legitimacy

• used electoral fraud to maintain key roles

• current party system is very competitive

Elections

• During PRI era, it was more of a celebration of power than a campaign

• new laws limit private funding and provide candidates with public funding

• more equitable access to media
  federal election institute means fairer elections

civil society

• associations and unions were incorporarted into the state through corporatism

• business orgs have opposed PRI for trying to carry out socialist policies, have supported PAN

• Labor was supported by PRI but fully controlled by gov, neolib policies have weakened CTM

• recently independent unions have formed

• PRI controlled media through bribery, privatization created a more competitive environment

• social media has allowed for more criticism of PRI but most people don’t use it

Society

• PRI glorified the mixing of cultures, but indigenous people who don’t assimilate deal with poverty, and elites are often euro

• led to EZLN

• people have a neg view of political system due to corruption and poor responses to cartels and economic crises

• weakening of PRI rule led to more people identifying with political parties

• catholic

economy

• PMEX

• liberals favor NAFTA, ISI, NAFTA, abandon land reform

• Mexican miracle

• oil crisis caused PRI to embrace lib economics

• North-South income divide

• large inequality

• many poor Mexicans are migrant laborers

• large informal sector

• more Mexicans have entered the middle class

foreign relations

• goal of mex rev and PRI to protect sovereignty and indy foreign policy

• supported rev movements that opposed US

• Nafta increased reliance on US

• Trumps desire to renegotiate Nafta and portrayal of mexico could worsen relationship Mexico

Current issues

drug war

• people lose faith war can be won

• increased violence and complicit/corrupt gov

• growing drug traffiking raised tension between US and mex

migration

• Bracero program

• IRCA

• illegal immigration continued

• tension between the countries

• growing economy and tighter borders decreased illegal immigration

• trumps desire to build a wall and have mex pay worsened relations