MEXICOMEXICO

Part 3

Competitive party systems

Britain Russia Mexico

Type of system

multi-party multi-party multi-party

Relationship to the legislature

2 parties dominate the legislature

1 party dominates the legislature

3 parties represented in the legislature

Relationship to the executive

1 party dominates the executive

1 party dominates the executive

Unclear patterns, appears competitive

Types of parties

parties on left, center, and right; regional parties relatively strong

parties of power common; party in previous one-party system is still competitive

parties on left and right; party in previous one-party system is still competitive

elections

direct election of president, Chamber of Deputies representatives and senators

typical voting patterns:

– PRI: small town or rural, less educated, older, poorer

– PAN: north, middle-class professional or business, urban, better educated, religious

– PRD: younger, politically active, from central states, some education, small town or urban, some middle class/older supporters

elections, cont.

elections are most competitive in urban areas

under PRI control, elections considered fraudulent; pressure since 19898 to have fairer elections

competitive elections have generated coalitions to the left and to the right of PRI, but may also encourage gridlock

electoral system: president: elected through ‘first-past-the-

post’ (plurality) system members of congress: dual system of first-

past and proportional representation– introduced in a major reform law in 1986, gave

power to parties challenging PRI’s control each of 31 states elects 3 senators, plus 32

seats determined nationally lower house (Chamber of Deputies): 300

seats determined by plurality within single-member districts, 200 by proportional representation

Government institutions

Mexico: a federal republic traditionally, executive has dominated constitutionally, Mexico’s government

structure resembles USA:– 3 branches of government, checks and balances,

some direct election– unlike USA, Mexico’s constitution easily amended

the executive:– since formation of PRI, policymaking centered on

Presdient– through patron-client system, president was

virtual dictator for his sexenio selected his successor, made all appointments to

positions of power in government and in PRI, named candidates for state and local offices

the bureaucracy:– extremely large– paid very little, but those a high levels have much

power– under PRI, parastatal sector was huge

number is now decreasing, but Fox’s efforts to privatize PEMEX were unsuccessful

the legislature: – bicameral

128-member Senate, 500-member Chamber of Deputies all directly elected (senators for 6-year term, deputies for

3-year term)– PRI lost influence over legislature as well as presidency– number of women in both houses has risen significantly

the judiciary:– Mexico does not yet have an independent judiciary or

any system of judicial review– Constitution is easily amended– federal and state courts, but most laws are federal– movement toward independent judiciary and role of

courts in protecting basic freedoms

the military:

– dominated Mexican politics throughout 19th and early 20th centuries

– PRI credited with de-politicizing the military– tendency to dole out favors to the military led

to strong ties between military officers and the drug trade

policies and issues

the economy:

collapse in 1982 improvement nosedive after global economic crises of 2008

standard of living increased greatly since 1940s, but gap between rich and poor still wide

the “Mexican Miracle”: 1940 - 1960

– economy grew by > 6% annually– industrial production rose 9% annually– agriculture’s share of total production dropped

from 25% to 11%– manufacturing rose from 25% to 34%– little inflation

economy, cont.– problems:

income maldistribution rarid and unplanned urbanization growth based on oiol

– Mexican government borrowed heavily on expected continued high oil prices

Mexico’s economy plummeted along with oil prices in 1980s

debt exceeded $100 billion (70% of GNP)– dramatic turnaround

sharp cuts in government spending debt reduction privatization

– economy has diversified, less dependent on oil– efforts to privatize, reform PEMEX stalled

foreign policy: – Mexico’s foreign policy more focued on USA than any

other country, but Mexican leaders have recently asserted themselves in international forums

maquiladora and NAFTA:– 1960, manufacturing zone created in northern Mexico

near USA border produced consumer goods for U.S plants created to transform imported, duty-free

components or raw materials into finished industrial products

– NAFTA: signed in 1995, eliminated trade barriers

foreign policy, cont.– other trade agreements intended to globalize Mexico’s

economy and pay off debt: GATT/WTO

– General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade– multilateral agreement, promotes freer trade mong countries– WTO created from GATT

NAFTA: goal – more closely integrate economies by eliminating tariffs and reducing restrictions on international expansion of companies

immigration policy:– NAFTA does not allow free flow of labor across borders– Mexico seeks guest worker program, increased visas

amnesty– USA: post-9/11 security risks, public opinion

drug trafficking: – major problem for both countires– Mexico: massive corruption, massive violence, massive profit

ethnic conflict: – EZLN began in 1994 in Chiapas in protest to the signing of

NAFTA– demands: jobs, land, housing, health care, education,

independence– President Fox continues negotiations

democratization and electoral reform:– reforms in 1990s – CFE: independent regulatory body– 1994: assassination of PRI candidate– replacement of PRI leadership