Poli Sci 220

Poli Sci 2

Lecture 7

MEXICO

I. Introduction: An Enduring Nation

A. Civilian and Authoritarian
B. A New Politics Emerging

II. The Making of the Modern State

A. Geographic Setting
        1. Topography
        2. Demographics
B. Critical Junctures: Evolution of Democracy
        1. Violence and Stability
        2. Constitution of 1917
        3. Founding of the PRI
                a. Elite accommodation over violence
                b. Peasants and Workers
        4. role of the State
                a. Corporatist philosophy
                b. Accommodation first; force if necessary
        5. Democratic Reforms and the Decline of the PRI

III. Political Economy and Development

A. State Capitalism
B. ISI: Import Substituting Industrialization
C. Business Interests
D. Large landowners
E. Consequences
F. Labor Intensive vs. Capital Intensive
G. Increased Centralization in the 1970s
H. Black Gold
I. Decentralization
        1. Salinas Administration's free market reforms
        2. NAFTA
J. Economy and Society
        1. Good News
        2. Bad News

IV. Governance and Policy-Making

A. Theory vs. Reality: The Case of the Courts
        1. Historically Subordinate
        2. Becoming More Assertive
B. Presidency
        1. Presidential Power
        2. Presidential Campaigns
        3. Presidential Constraints
C. Military and Law Enforcement

V. Representation and Participation

A. Expressing Interests and Concerns
        1. Formal Processes vs. Clientelism
B. Legislature
C. Political Parties
        1. PRI
        2. PAN
        3. PRD

VI. Political Challenges

A. Corruption
B. Poverty
1. Chiapas Rebellion

Constitution of 1917: established a formal set of progressive social and economic rights to citizens:

- agrarian reform
- social security
- the right to organize in unions
- a minimum wage
- an 8 hour work day
- profit sharing for workers
- and universal secular education
- land rights
- limits on the Catholic Church's influence
- 6 year presidential term (no re-election)