Mexico, a Frozen Revolution

·         What factors caused the revolution of 1910?

·         What were the immediate outcomes?

·         How do we explain the remarkable resilience of the PRI corporatist system until 2000?

·         What kind of challenges (economic, social, political, others) does Mexico face for democratic deepening?

Skidmore & Smith (chapter 8)

-          Revolution in 1910 began with a split within the dominant elite.

-          Francisco L Madero (son of a family that had made a fortune in cattle and mining, and who were also linked to Diaz’ political machine) was a strong liberal in economics and politics.

-          He believed that Mexico was ready for liberal democracy – and thus entered the 1910 campaign as the candidate of the Anti-Reelectionist Party – opposing Diaz.

-          Diaz won the election – only after having Madero and 5000 opposition jailed.

-          While in jail Madero issued his famous “Plan de San Luis Potosi” and called for armed resistance.

-          The rebel movement grew quickly, and in 1912 he became the nation’s president before delirious crowds in Mexico City.  

Notes on Seminar:

§         Division between landed elite and peasants.

§         Political opening – opposition to authoritarian regime.

§         Redistribution.

§         Infrastructure – technology & communication – roads etc. Politically makes people accountable.

§         Oversized military.

§         No institutional setting capable of channelling discontent of society.

§         Wanted democracy and political openness.

§         Movement led by intellectuals as well – mobilization comes from the middle classes.

§         Immediate outcomes; Constitution 1917 – economic & social structures.

§         Reversed Mexico’s position in international market – everything gets nationalized.

§         US was prone to keep corporatist system in place – was keeping a sense of stability.

§         Corporatist system in place. Strong institutions like Church & military got given powerful posts. Company environment led to negotiations.

§         Corporatist system for 70 years; everything was negotiated and everyone had access to it.

§         Economic growth kept people happy, preventing opposition rising.

§         Disarticulate middle class – were not politically articulate & involved with politics.

§         Economic/political/social challenges; human rights uses are postponing democracy.

§         Crime.

§         Uneven distribution of wealth.

§         Poor representation – especially of those below the poverty line.