Traditionally, Mexico has had a state corporatist structure – central, authoritarian rule that allows input from interest groups outside the government. Through the camarilla system, leaders of important groups, including business elites, workers, and peasants, actually served in high government offices. Today political and economic liberalization appears to be leading toward a more open structure, but corporatism is still characteristic of policymaking. Is the modern Mexican government authoritarian or democratic?
| Facts About Political Parties of Mexico | ||
|---|---|---|
| PRI | PAN | PRD |
| The Partido Revolucionario Institucional | The National Action Party | The Democratic Revolutionary Party |
| In power from 1920 – 2000 | Founded in 1939, making it one of the oldest opposition parties | Generally thought of as PRI’s opposition on the left. |
| Corporatist structure | Strongest in the north | Orbrador, popular Mexico City mayor barely lost the presidential election in 2006 |
| Patron Client System (support coming from rural areas) | Generally considered PRI’s opposition to the right | Since 2009 the party has lost a significant number of seats in the lower house. |
| Until 1988, there was no question the PRI candidate would be elected president | Represents business interests | 2012 supports a woman for president |
| President Felipe Calderon won in 2006 | ||
Questions to consider:
- In recent decades, how has Mexico struggled for democracy?
- In what ways was the PRI undemocratic?
- Why were Calles and Cardenas so important?
- The elections of 2000, 2006 and 2009 were important for what reasons?
| Years | Era | Remembered For |
|---|---|---|
| 1325-1521 | Aztec | High Civilization, bureaucratic empire, human sacrifice |
| 1521-1821 | New Spain | Colonist exploitation, Catholicism |
| 1821-1823 | Empire | Conservative Independence |
| 1830s-1850s | Santa Anna | Erratic leadership, lost Texas and U.S. war |
| 1850s-1860s | Ju`arez | Equality, federalism, anti-clericalism |
| 1877-1911 | Porfiriato | Dictatorship, economic growth |
| 1910-1920 | Revolution | Complex, multisided upheaval |
| 1924-1934 | Calles | Found six-year term and PNR |
| 1934-1940 | Cardenas | Cardenas makes PRI socialistic and corporatistic; nationalizes oil. |
| 1940-1964 | Conservative PRI | Favors business and foreign investment crackdown on leftists |
| 1964-1982 | Destabilizing PRI | Oil, overspending, and inflation spur unrest; massacre of students |
| 1982-2000 | Desperate PRI | Technocrats calm economy, promote NAFTA, clean up elections, assassinations |
| 2000- | PAN |
Rejection of PRI; accomplishes little |
Review Questions
How long did the PRI dominate politics in Mexico?
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71 years
What steps has Mexico taken toward democracy?
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Democratic Constitution, some land reform, and gradual opening of political system to opposition.
Following the Mexican Revolution, the government passed the Constitution of ______.
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1917
Mexico’s president serves a _______ year term.
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six
In _________________ President Salinas signed the North American Free Trade Agreement.
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1994