Mexican History
Three Time Periods
1. Colonialism (1519-1821)
2. Independence through Revolution of 1910
3. 20th Century after the Revolution
1. Colonialism (1519-1821)
Spanish Colonialism’s Enduring
Influences
• Mestizo Population
– Blend of Spanish and native Indian
(Amerindian)
– Today: 60% of Mexican population
• Catholicism
– Catholic missionaries spread the faith
– Today: 80-90% Roman Catholic
• Spanish Language
2. Independence through Revolution of 1910
• 1810-1821: Mexico
battles for independence
– Fr. Miguel Hidalgo led the
rebellion (executed one
year later)
– Mexican elite continued
the struggle.
• 1821: Gain independence
Mural in Guadalajara’s Palacio de Gobierno
2a. Characteristics of 1821-1876
• Instability and legitimacy issues
– Spanish took ruling hierarchy with them.
– Power vacuum.
– CAUDILLO (regional strongmen) battled for power.
• 1833-1855: Thirty-six presidents
• Rise of military power
– Instability invited military control (i.e., General
Santa Anna)
2a. Characteristics of 1821-1876
• U.S. Domination
– Took California, Texas, and most of SW U.S.
• Mexican/American War 1848
2b. The Porfiriato (1876-1911)
• General Porfirio Diaz
– Led a military coup
– Became dictator (1876-1911)
• Characteristics of this era:
– Stability
– Authoritarianism
– Foreign Investment
• CIENTIFICOS: (technocrats) advisors who pushed for
entrepreneurship and FDI
– Growing gap between rich and poor
Mexican History
Three Time Periods
1. Colonialism (1519-1821)
2. Independence through Revolution of 1910
3. 20th Century after the Revolution
3. 20th Century After the Revolution
1910 Revolution
• Caudillos (elites): Fed up with Diaz’ authoritarianism
& foreign influence.
• Peasants: Fed up with poverty
• Various caudillos led bands of armed peasants.
– Emiliano Zapata & Pancho Villa
• Diaz forced from power
• 1910-1934: Assassinations and bloody violence
among caudillos and government.
Forming the
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)
• 1929: Convention of caudillos
• Goal: Create one, big political party; pass around
the leadership
– President gets only one six-year term (SEXENIO)
• Principle of “non-reelection”
• Then must step aside for another leader
– Remaining caudillos get important government
positions.
• 1929-2000: PRI Controls Mexican Politics
PRI (1929-2000)
• Compromise among elites.
• Behind-the-scenes conflict resolution.
• Political/economic rewards to those who play
the game.
Comparing Revolutions
Motivations for Revolution
• Russia:
– Defeat authoritarian government /tsars
– Spread Marxist ideology
• China:
– Defeat authoritarian/dynastic government
– Drive out “foreign devils.”
• Mexico:
– Defeat authoritarian government
– Anti-foreign dependency
– Elite power struggle
Characteristics of Revolution
• Russia
– Led by Lenin and Bolsheviks
– 4-Year Civil War
• China
– Fighting among regional warlords, Nationalists, and
Communists
– Lengthy Civil War
• Mexico
– Fighting among regional caudillos
– Lengthy period of instability and violence
Outcome of Revolutions
• Russia
– Marxist-Leninist style of Communism
– One-party state
• China
– Maoist style of Communism
– One-party state
• Mexico
– PRI created
– One party-dominant state
PRI (1929-2000)
• Compromise among elites.
• Behind-the-scenes conflict resolution.
• Political/economic rewards to those who play
the game.
PRI’s Patron-Client Networks
“Clientelism”
• PRI “Camarillas”
Minister
– Origins with
century
CAUDILLOS.
Asst.
– Supporters received
Minister
political/economic/social
favors.
Deputy
Deputy
Minister
Minister
– Hierarchical network
– Offices and benefits exchanged
among politicians
– Citizens receive perks for loyalty
19th
Asst.
Minister
Deputy
Minister
Mexican Lives
1. What is Miguel’s job?
2. Describe the patron-client hierarchy.
A. What does Miguel give? (identify 2 things)
B. What does he receive? (list 3 specific examples)
3. Describe 2 specific examples from Miguel’s
childhood of the PRI’s patron-client network
in action.
4. Describe one example from Miguel’s time as
a factory worker of the PRI’s patron-client
network in action.
Lazaro Cardenas (1934-1940)
• Stabilized and radicalized (socialism) Mexican
politics
• Champion of the peasants
1. Agrarian Reform
• EJIDOS
– Created Collective/Cooperative Lands
– Taken from foreigners and landlords
– Worked by peasants
– 50 million acres of land
Lazaro Cardenas (1934-1940)
2. Formation of Unions & Peasant Organizations
• Organizations became part of PRI machine
• Influence in public policy
– State Corporatism
3. Nationalized Oil Industry
• PEMEX created.
• Diaz’ foreign investors were kicked out.
4. Legitimacy to New Government/PRI
• Stepped aside after 6 years.
1934-2000: 11 PRI Presidents
Gradual erosion of PRI’s
monopoly on power
Erosion of PRI’s Monopoly on Power
POLITICAL CHANGES
• PRI Progressives believed changes in
politics=greater legitimacy
1. (1964) Legislature began proportional
representation
•
•
Low 2.5% Threshold
1998: 240 of lower houses 500 deputies were PRI
opposition
2. (1990) Federal Election Institute
•
•
Independent organization to control elections
Greatly reduced voter fraud
3. Permit some fair local/regional elections
Erosion of PRI’s Monopoly on Power
Governors by Party (1960-2000)
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1980
1981 1982 1983
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
PAN
PRI
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
1
1998 1999 2000
3
4
1
1
2
3
3
3
4
4
6
6
7
9
30
30
29
28
28
28
27
27
25
23
21
17
PRD
6
Erosion of PRI’s Monopoly on Power
Presidential Elections by Party (1964-2000)
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
1964
1970
1976
1982
1988
1994
2000
PRI
87.8% 84.4% 92.8% 71.6% 51.2% 50.6% 36.1%
PAN
11.0% 14.0%
PRD/left*
0.0%
16.4% 17.0% 26.9% 42.5%
3.7%
30.9% 17.2% 16.6%
Erosion of PRI’s Monopoly on Power
ECONOMIC ISSUES
• Several economic crises between 1980-2000
– 1980s: oil prices plunged; Mexico=recession
– Mid-1990s: peso lost half its value
•
•
Bailed out by the U.S.
Mexico=severe austerity measures
Election of 2000
CANDIDATE
PARTY
VOTE
PERCENTAGE
VICENTE FOX
FRANCISCO
LABASTIDA
CUAUHTEMOC
CARDENAS
PAN
PRI
15.99 million
13.58 million
42.52
36.11
PRD
6.26 million
16.64
Election of 2006
CANDIDATE
PARTY
VOTE
PERCENTAGE
Felipe Calderon
PAN
15.00 million
35.89%
Andres Manuel
Lopez Obrador
PRD
14.76 million
35.31%
Roberto Madrazo
PRI
9.3 million
22.26%
“Obrador to be ‘Parallel President’”
•
•
Lisa Adams in Mexico City and Associated Press
The Guardian, Sunday 17 September 2006
Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Mexico's leftwing leader,
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, elected him head of a parallel
government that plans to oppose president-elect Felipe Calderon's
administration for the next six years.
The weekend "vote" - a show of hands in the capital's vast Zocalo plaza
-follows weeks of dispute over the July 2 national election. Mr
Lopez Obrador claims that fraud and illegal government spending
were responsible for the conservative Mr Calderon's narrow poll
victory.
The crowd agreed not to recognise Mr Calderon as the nation's leader,
and to create a parallel government in Mexico City, complete with
its own cabinet. Mr Lopez Obrador will be sworn in as "legitimate
president" on November 20, the Mexican Revolution holiday. Mr
Calderon will be inaugurated on December 1.
Political Parties of Mexico
National Action Party (PAN)
• Established in 1939
•
•
•
•
•
Platform
Economic liberalization
Regional autonomy
Free and fair elections
Strong support of Catholic Church
Party on the right
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD)
• Established 1986
• Broke away from PRI
•
•
•
•
•
Platform
Populist (favor the people over the elite)
Nationalist
Arguably “won” in 1988.
Barely lost in 2006.
Party on the left
Voter Identification
PRI
• Small town and rural
• Less educated/poorer
• Older
PRD
• Small town or urban
• Some education
• Younger/politically active
PAN
•
•
•
•
Urban
Better educated
Professionals/Business
Less church/state
separation
2000 Election
Blue=PAN
Green=PRI
Yellow=PRD
2006 Election
Election of 2012
CANDIDATE
PARTY
VOTE
PERCENTAGE
Enrique Pena Nieto
PRI
19.2 million
39%
Andres Manuel
Lopez Obrador
PRD
15.9 million
32%
Josefina Vazquez
Mota
PAN
12.7 million
26%
Election of 2012
• Green=PRI
• Yellow=PRD
• Blue=PAN