Answers to Mexico FRQs
1. Define corporatism (corporatist system). Describe corporatism in Mexico
Corporatism is a word to describe the type, strength and relationship between
civil society (interest) groups and the government. What we’re looking at is
primarily (though not exclusively) the level of autonomy (independence) from
the government
In a pluralist system (the U.S.) interest groups form and operate
 independently from the government
 choose their own leaders
 decide what policies to pursue
 usually raise and are responsible for their own budgets
 often compete with other interest groups for government influence and
access (think environmental vs. business interest groups)
 can protest or demand change from the government
In a corporatist system, interest groups often:
 are created by the government, or at least the government has influence
over the group’s leadership
 groups compete less with each other; interest groups part of the
policymaking process
 cooperate more with government (usually influenced if not dominated by
gov’t)
 there is often only one dominant interest group for each ‘sector’ of society
(labor, agricultural, management, etc)
 state and interest group autonomy is mixed; interest group is NOT
separate from the state
Mexico under the PRI was more of a corporatist state; it has become more
pluralist as the political system has evolved, opened and become more
democratic (substantively)
2. Define camarillas. Describe camarillas in Mexico.
Camarillas are a politician’s patron-client networks, a ‘you scratch my back and
I’ll scratch yours’ type of political relationship, where favors are done in
exchange for political support.
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Corruption often a byproduct of patron-client systems
Democratization and industrialization have put pressures on Mexico’s
patron-client system
So has the defeat of the PRI, and networks probably are not as strong as
they used to be
Still play a role in policymaking in Mexico
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3. Is Mexico a substantive democracy? Support your response, AND address the
following::
a. Define substantive democracy
b. Describe presidential elections over the past 15 years or so
c. Describe the distribution of political power in Mexico
Substantive democracy: Having both the procedures of a democratic system
along with the substance, so for example:
 Free, fair elections with possibility of change (that’s what makes it
substantive)
 Open civil society (pluralist)
 Free press
 Rule of law
 Political rights for citizens
Generally:
 Substantive dems have civil rights and civil liberties; often citizens do not
in procedural democracies
 Substantive have rule of law; often procedural dems do not
 Open civil society (substantive) vs. not in procedural
Mexico:
Substantive:
 PRI no longer always wins
 Economic (neo) liberalization promotes freer civil society/ less gov’t
control
 More competitive political system
 Media has independence from the govt
 Courts increasingly used and trusted by citizens
 Military plays lesser role in policymaking
Over past 15 years in Mexico/ distribution of political power:
 PRI defeated (2X, in 2000 and 2006)
 The legislature has reasserted itself as a center of policymaking and no
longer blindly follows the executive (President); depends what parties are
inc control, of course
 The IFE helps to insure freer, fairer elections
 Mexican presidency still very powerful, but has declined in power
 See Wood p. 368 (5th edition)
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4. Describe and discuss cleavages in Mexico. What are they based on, and provide
two events and/or government policies that have come about as a result of
these cleavages.
Cleavages:
 Urban/rural
 Social classes
 North/ south
 Amerindian/ Mestizo
Northerners:
 Wealthier (more middle class)
 Higher levels of education
 More engaged in trade/ contacts with the US
 More mestizos
 More likely to support PAN
 NAFTA supporters
 Market-based economy (maquiladoras)
 More drug trafficking/ violence
Southerners
 Poorer
 Amerindian
 Less education
 More rural/ farmers
 Less contact with US
 More likely to support PRI/PRD
 More patron-client in traditional south
Events/ Policies:
 Chiapas rebellion (Zapatista uprising) and gov’t military response
 More protests in south
 NAFTA as attempting to increase trade/ relations with US
 Ejidos
 Growing urbanization
5. Define political ideology. Describe the political ideology of the PRI and either
the PRD or PAN.
Political ideology: Political values or beliefs regarding the basic goal(s) of
government and politics
 Liberalism, communism, socialism, etc.
 What is the role of government: promote freedom? Equality? Etc.
For ideologies of Mexican political parties generally, see Wood pp. 353-356
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