İ viva mexico ! current politics and issues. change since 1980’s toward democracy – multiparty...
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Change since 1980’s
• Toward democracy – multiparty • Economic improvement and liberalization • Rich and poor disparity • Growth of middle class in north• Globalization • Relationship with US
2000 and YA!• Win by Fox in 2000—
peaceful transition of power– Goodbye to “living museum
of history” – PRI faced delicate balance
between need for credible opposition to engage in competition but with no chance to win and actual, level playing field and possible loss of power
– One party system was not good for the legitimacy of the PRI d
– Consequence of Reforms—Electoral Institute, factions within PRI, Zedillo
2006 Election
• Won by Felipe Calderon PAN candidate
• Promised to clean up the drug cartels
• Manuel Lopez Obrador (PRD) claimed election fraud and set up alternative government – wait, is this a democracy?
2012 Election
• Enrique Pen2 a Nieto elected president
• PRI candidate• Manuel Lopez Obrador (PRD)
claimed stolen from him, again…
• PRI in control of the presidency but not the legislature
The telenovela president?
Dynamics of Divided Government
• Inherent problems of a presidential system – Party that
controls the executive does not necessarily control the legislature
National Palace Mexico City –a house divided after 2012 elections
PRI vs. PRD States in 2012Presidential ElectionPRI states in green
20 states
PRD states in yellow
8 states *
PAN states in blue
4 states
*PRD candidate Manuel Lopez Obrador continues to allege irregularities existed that cost him the election
source: electionresources.org
Chamber of Deputies 2012Election Results
PRI in green
240 seats
PRD in yellow
136 seats
PAN states in blue
114 seats
source: electionresources.org
Senate 2012 Election Results
PRI in green
61senators
PAN in blue
38 senators
PRD in yellow
28 senators
source: electionresources.org
Domestic Agenda
• Pluralism • Decentralization • Electoral Reform • Rule of Law (i.e. judicial reform) • Anti-narcotics
• Criminal gangs in Mexico account for 11 of 13 largest drug markets in US
• 39% heroin into USA• #1 supplier of methamphetamine• 93% cocaine into USA• Formation of Federal Agency of Investigation in Mexico
(AFI) in 2002
Election Reform• Campaign finance
restrictions • Critical media
coverage • International watch
teams • Election monitoring
by opposition party members – IFE (Federal Election
Institute)• Despite all this claims
of rampant vote buying in 2012
Political Economy • Import Substitution Industrialization
– Mexican “Miracle” 1950’s and 1960’s
• Neoliberalism – Privatization with Mexican characteristics– NAFTA—pros and cons for Mexico – Maquiladoras – Economic success vs. political success?