Latin American poltics.

Question 5 Module 4 -Part I.pdfQuestion 5 Module 4 -Part 2.pdf Outline•Mexico 1.Colonial Period2.Independence 3.Post Independence 19th century4.Mexican Revolution 5.Post revolutionary Mexico (1930’s-1980’s) Map of Mexico Colonial Period•Mexico was part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. •Mexico was an important territory for Spanish empire. It was rich in mineral resources.•Mexico had a huge indigenous population. Independence•Mexico’s independence had two phases1.1813-First proclamation of independence. It was crushed by the Spanish army. 2.1821-Second proclamation of independence. It succeeded. Post Independence•Once Mexicans achieved independence from Spain, Agustín de Iturbide created an empire and appointed himself as Emperor. •de Iturbide invited the other territories of the former Viceroyalty of New Spain to join the empire. •The empire will last from 1822 until 1823 when de Iturbide was forced to leave power. Mexico will become a republic. Post Independence•With the establishment of the republic, Mexicans experienced political instability.•Two political groups clashed: Conservatives-believed in the promotion of aristocratic ideas and the protection of the rights of the military, elites and church.Liberals-believed in a restricted democracy and in reducing the power of the military and church. Post Independence •First half of 19th century-Some important Mexican political leaders1.Guadalupe Victoria: 1st president of the republic. 2.Antonio López de Santa Anna dominated politics from 1833 until 1855. Post Independence Mexico lost a big portion of its territory due to the Mexican American war.•1835 Texans rebelled and declared independence from Mexico. Mexican troops (led by Santa Anna) tried to crush the rebellion and succeeded in the Alamo but later failed in the Battle of San Jacinto. •1845 Texas was incorporated by the US. Post Independence•Mexicans saw annexation of Texas as an act of war by the USA. •Dispute between USA and Mexico over border.•President James Polk sent troops to Mexico and Mexicans counterattacked.•Mexican American War started.•Results of the war: US paid Mexico 15 million dollars and took the entire territory from Texas to California. It was half of Mexico’s domain. Post Independence Second half of 19th century: Reforms, Monarchy and Republic-Various Liberal governments enacted a series of sweeping reforms.1.Abolition of military and ecclesiastical “fueros”-special dispensations exempting military and clerics from having to stand trial in civil courts.2.Prohibition to ecclesiastical and civilian institutions of ownership of property not directly used in day to day operations.3.Transfer of power of registry from Church to Post Independence•In reaction to Reforms- War of reforms (1858-61)-Conservatives vs. Liberals•Liberal leader Benito Juárez deepened reforms through decrees.•After years of fighting, Juárez’s army defeated the Conservatives. Juárez became President in 1861. •Juárez’s government faced bankruptcy and declared a 2 year moratorium on Mexico’s foreign debt. European creditors will be upset. Benito Juárez Post Independence •Monarchy-French Emperor Napoleon III sought to expand his empire and launched a 5 year war of occupation in Mexico.-After ousting Juárez, Napoleon, with the help of Conservatives, installed Ferdinand Maximilian as Emperor. -Juárez’s troops resisted the Monarchy and pushed the French away in 1867. Post Independence Restoration of the Republic•Juárez was President during 1867-72. •Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada succeeded him. •Porfirio Díaz overthrew Lerdo de Tejada. (Lerdo wanted to be re-elected). Porfirio Díaz Post Independence •Porfirio Diaz’s dictatorship (1876-1911)-He was the power behind the throne when he placed puppet presidents-Diaz’s policies:1.He achieved political stability. He used military and police.2.He amended the constitution to be re-elected.3.Under his government, Mexico achieved impressive economic development.-But, the majority of Mexicans remain poor. Mexican Revolution Mexican Revolution started with a division within elite •Francisco Madero opposed Díaz’s dictatorship and ran for president against him in 1910.•When Madero lost, Díaz ordered his arrest. •Madero’s arrest inspired many Mexicans to rebel vs. Díaz. •Under pressure from different groups, Díaz left the country in 1911.•Madero is elected President in 1912. Francisco Madero Mexican Revolution •Madero and his followers began the Revolution. Later on ,they could not control it.•Two revolutionary leaders had other goals:1. Emiliano Zapata led a movement of peasants without land. They wanted land!2. Pancho Villa led a movement initially composed of small ranchers, unemployed miners and cowboys. They wanted jobs! Mexican Revolution •Madero was killed by his military chief of staff, Victoriano Huerta. •Huerta (1913-14) wanted to become a dictator like Porfirio Díaz.•A third revolutionary leader will be Venustiano Carranza. He will lead an army vs. Huerta. His group wanted political reforms. •Carranza, Villa and Zapata vs. Huerta. Mexican Revolution•Huerta resigned under pressure of the United States. •Carranza was elected President in 1917. •Military troops killed Zapata (1919) and Villa (1923). •Under Carranza, a group of delegates wrote the 1917 Constitution. It contained revolutionary elements: rights to workers to get organized, all sub soils belonged to Mexico, president can not serve two consecutive terms, reduction of role of Church in education, and restoration of Mexican Revolution •Alvaro Obregón ordered the murder of Carranza.•Obregón becomes president from 1920 until 1924.•Obregón transferred power to Plutarco Elías Calles (1920-24).•After Calles’ term expired, Obregón ran for president and won in 1924. Obregón was killed by a religious fanatic.• Calles returned to the presidency and stayed in power from 1924 until 1928.•Calles created an official party, the National Mexican Revolution•Lázaro Cárdenas (1934-40)-First president chosen through the official party. -Cárdenas’ policies:1. Distribution of land to peasants.2. Expropriation of American oil companies. 3. Reorganized and renamed the official party. Social groups tied to party. New name: Party of the Mexican Revolution. Lázaro Cárdenas Mexican Revolution •Cont. Cárdenas’ policies4. Presidency became the primary institution of the Mexican political system. Like a “king” for 6 years.5. Presidential candidate from official party was chosen by top leaders within party. “Dedazo.”No primaries.6. Official party had monopoly on media. -Political system was partially democratic-competitive elections but not free and fair. Post Revolutionary Mexico-PRI’s PAX (Peace) and “Perfect Dictatorship”•After 1940, Mexican Revolution will be over.•The official political party’s predominance in politics will bring peace and stability.•Mario Vargas Llosa called it the “perfect dictatorship.” •Even when presidents came from the same party, they will lean to different sides of the political spectrum. Post Revolutionary MexicoManuel Avila Camacho (1940-46) -Center right•Cárdenas chose a more conservative candidate to protect his radical policies from a backlash from the right.•Under his presidency, Avila made an agreement with US President Roosevelt to allow Mexican workers to work on US fields during the war period. Post Revolutionary Mexico Miguel Alemán (1946-52)-Center right•Reorganized and renamed the official party New name: Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) •Invested in infrastructure •Increased protection against imports•Economic growth Post Revolutionary MexicoAdolfo Ruiz Cortines (1952-58)•In attempting to reduce inflation, Ruiz Cortines devalued the Mexican peso and set a fixed exchange rate. Devaluation helped to increase Mexican exports. Post Revolutionary MexicoAdolfo López Mateo (1958-66)-Center Left•Nationalization of US and Canadian owned electric companies and the US controlled motion picture industry.•Constitutional Amendment to guarantee opposition parties a minimum of Congressional seats if they win a minimum % in national elections. Thanks to this change, other smaller political parties (PAN and PPS) won congressional seats in 1964. Post Revolutionary Mexico Gustavo Díaz Ordaz (1964-70)-Center Right•Massacre of Tlatelolco-Government repressed student mobilizations during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Hundreds died and many more injured. Repression sent a message to the population: if you protest, you would be repressed.•Economic growth 6% Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Post Revolutionary MexicoLuis Echevarría (1970-76) Center Right•High inflation rates. 20% (1973). Mexican products were less competitive in the international market. Mexican goods were based on 1954 exchange rates. Peso was expensive. Echevarría devalued the peso. This was the end of a powerful economic and political symbol. Luis Echevarría Post Revolutionary MexicoJosé López Portillo (1976-82)•Under his presidency, Mexicans discovered vast quantities of oil. Oils exports increased. Economic growth.•Petro dollars caused inflation. López had to devalue the peso.•After 1981 oil prices in the international market declined. López had to take loans. José López Portillo Post Revolutionary Mexico•Cont. López Portillo-Electoral reforms: new and easier rules to register political parties and 100 seats for the opposition in an expanded 400 member Chamber of Deputies. Post Revolutionary MexicoMiguel de la Madrid (1982-1988)•Financial crisis-Mexico could not pay foreign debt. Causes: oils prices went down, high interest rates of debt, and capital flight (rich Mexicans were taking money out of banks fearing problems with the economy.)•US and International Banks rescued Mexico with a loan package. Price of help: Mexico had to adopt an austerity program. For example: reduce public spending, selling public companies, reduction of tariffs. Miguel de la Madrid Post Revolutionary MexicoCont. de la Madrid•Mexicans faced a deep recession. Real wages fell 40%. Living standards fell with the end of public spending (ex. Subsidies).•1986 Mexico took another loan package•1986 Increased the number of seats in the Chamber of Deputies distributed by proportional representation from 100 to 200. Allowed for increase of opposition. •1988 Inflation rates 143%. Domestic capital market crashed. 75 % drop in Mexican stock Post Revolutionary Mexico1988 Elections . Big test for PRI rule•Economic crisis translated into more votes to opposition political parties.•Main opposition political parties: right wing National Action Party (PAN) and left wing Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD). •Carlos Salinas de Gortari won by 50.3% of the total vote. Very low outcome for Mexican standards. Conclusion•Characteristics of 19th century Mexican politics: political instability, reforms monarchy, republic restoration and dictatorships. •Revolution had a major social, economic and political impact in Mexico.•“Perfect dictatorship”: PRI dominated Mexican politics until the end of the 20th century. present  Introduction•Carlos Salinas de Gortari 1988-94•Ernesto Zedillo 1994-2000•Vicente Fox 2000-06•Felipe Calderón 2006-12•Enrique Peña Nieto 2012-present Carlos Salinas de Gortari Carlos Salinas de Gortari•He continued and extended the economic strategies initiated by de la Madrid.  He lowered trade barriers and privatized state owned companies. •Economic results: reduced annual inflation to 20-30% and annual growth rate of 3.1% in 1989. Carlos Salinas de Gortari•Electoral reforms-1990 Creation of the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) formally independent of the government but still under control of the Ministry of Interior with majority PRI representation.  -1993 Introduced minority representation in the Senate. The senate doubled in size (128). -1994 IFE remained under control of the Ministry of Interior but other members were non partisan citizen representatives elected by parties. Allowed international electoral observers.  Carlos Salinas de Gortari•Under Salinas, Mexico joined the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It was a trading and investment regional bloc between the US, Canada and Mexico. •Mexico was a “first world country”? Carlos Salinas de Gortari•Two challenged vision of Mexico as an advanced country.1)On the day that NAFTA went into effect (Jan. 1, 1994) the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN), a guerrilla movement, emerged in Chiapas. The Zapatistas opposed the trade accord, Salinas’ economic model and the undemocratic character of the system. They demanded rights to indigenous communities and social justice. 2)The assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio, the  Carlos Salinas de Gortari•1994 ElectionsSalinas picked Ernesto Zedillo as the PRI candidate. Results of 1994 elections: -Ernesto Zedillo (PRI) won by 48.8%-PAN 26%-PRD 16.6% Ernesto Zedillo Ernesto Zedillo•Mexico had a deep recession. ▫Why? Investors withdrew money (10 billion dollars in one week) from Mexico because they were expecting a devaluation. In response, Zedillo devalued the peso. It lost more than half its value.Near collapse of the economy. Mexico was able to prop up its economy through a multi-billion-dollar loan from the United States and prompt action by the International Monetary Fund. In return, Mexico  pledged some of its future oil revenues.  Ernesto Zedillo•Zedillo worked to implement the economic austerity measures that had been a condition of the U.S. financial bailout and continued efforts to privatize state-owned petroleum and transportation enterprises Ernesto Zedillo•Zedillo broke away with the traditional impunity to presidents and their relatives for changes on corruption. ▫He sent Salinas into exile (Salinas started to criticize Zedillo's economic policies)▫He ordered the arrest of Salinas' brother, Raul Salinas, on charges of corruption.  Ernesto Zedillo•In 1995 Zedillo replaced the country’s entire Supreme Court—which then began to rule against government agencies on a regular basis—and picked a member of the main opposition party to be his attorney general Ernesto Zedillo•1994-96 Peace negotiations with Zapatistas. •1996 Zapatista representatives and the Mexican government signed peace accords that aimed to address the issues highlighted by the Zapatista rebellion, such as the need for increased political participation and local political autonomy for indigenous peoples. However, the Zapatistas later broke off negotiations with the government.  Ernesto Zedillo•1997 Electoral reforms-First election for the mayor of DF (previously appointed by President since 1928)-Opposition had greater access to free media.-IFE is totally independent. Head of IFE is a non partisan citizen.-Limited private source of campaign funding.    -Placed Electoral Tribunal under the Judicial branch, no longer under Executive control. Ernesto Zedillo•1997 Legislative and municipal elections-PRI control of the legislature was eliminated, 4 opposition parties holding the majority of seats in the Chamber of Deputies. -PAN major beneficiary of the anti PRI vote.  Ernesto Zedillo•NO DEDAZO.  First PRI Primaries.  To make the PRI more democratic and revive the party’s political fortunes, President Zedillo relinquished his right to pick the next PRI candidate for president. PRI held the first presidential primary election in Mexico’s history. In the election, open to all registered voters in Mexico, Francisco Labastida Ochoa overwhelmingly defeated three other candidates to win the party’s nomination for the July 2000 presidential election.  Ernesto Zedillo•2000 electionsFrancisco Labastida  (PRI) 36% Vicente Fox  (PAN) 43%The first time the PRI had not won the presidency since the party’s founding in 1929. During the 2000 elections the PAN also became the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, and the PRI lost its majority in the Senate.Transition to democracy! Vicente Fox Vicente Fox•Challenges:-A political system that has been dominated by the PRI.-PAN did not control Congress, needed to negotiate with other parties.-Human rights violations by PRI-PRI corruption-Legalization of status of illegal immigrants in USA Vicente Fox•Plans for Immigration Accord (amnesty and temporary work visas/guest worker program to solve the problem of illegal workers in USA) could not materialized due to  9/11.  Vicente Fox•Human Right policy-Fox’s government created the Special Prosecutor’s Office and  the Commission of Human Rights. The Commission is dependent on the executive, which has exercised control over its budget and named its president.  Vicente Fox•Obstacles for Cases on Human Rights Violations: -The Office has neither effectively provided a new version of the atrocities committed under the authoritarian regime, nor being able to punish those responsible for the violations.-When courts have granted arrest warrants, the judicial police (dependent on the Executive branch) has been unable or unwilling to enforce the arrest and the accused remain at large.-Several repression events and many disappearances go back to more than thirty years  Vicente Fox•Crime rate has increased. -Kidnapping. Police allied with criminals. Problem of safety. Citizens do not feel safe.-Drug cartels have become more powerful.   Vicente Fox2006 Elections-Presidential Candidates  Felipe Calderón (PAN) 36.69%Manuel López Obrador (PRD) 36.11%Roberto Madrazo  (PRI) 22.72%Another victory for PAN. According to the Federal Electoral Institute,  Calderón won by a small margin( 0.56%) López Obrador declared that he won the elections.  Crisis of legitimacy for Calderón.   Felipe Calderón Felipe Calderón•Challenges:-Deepening democratization -Fighting crime. Especially Drug Cartels-Economic Development Felipe CalderónForeign policy: •Calderón expanded the Mesoamerican Integration and Development project/Puebla Panama Project (regional integration initiative) to include Colombia and an agreement of cooperation vs. organized crime.•Calderón proposed the Mérida Initiative-a security cooperation between the United States, Mexico and the countries of Central America to combat drug trafficking and transnational crime.    Felipe Calderón •Immigration Reform: In 2008 the Mexican Congress passed a bill decriminalizing undocumented immigration into Mexico. Felipe CalderónDomestic policy •Made a Tortilla Price Stabilization pact with tortilla producing companies. Price ceilings on tortillas.   •Set a cap on the salaries on the President and cabinet ministers. •Created the Office of Social Aid for Victims of Violence.•Trying to implement a universal health care system.  Felipe Calderós•Increased and cleaned up Federal Police, enlisted the service of army to fight vs drug cartel and criminal organizations. Enrique Peña Nieto2012 Elections-Presidential candidatesEnrique Peña Nieto (PRI) 38.2%Andrés Manuel López Obrador (PRD) 31.6%Josefina Vázquez Mota (PAN) 25.4% Enrique Peña Nieto Enrique Peña NietoEnergy:•Energy Reform bill approved by Congress in December 2013. It open up Mexico’s hydrocarbons sector to foreign investment for the first time since 1930’s.   Enrique Peña NietoSecurity issues: •Peña Nieto’s priority is to reduce violence (murder rates, kidnappings and extortions) rather than attacking Mexico’s drug trafficking organizations.  •Peña Nieto’s government created a National Police also known as “gendarmerie.”    Enrique Peña Nieto•Critique to Peña Nieto’s security policies:▫Too much talking about strategy but not enough on content. ▫Peña Nieto has said little about crime and violence. It seems that he wants these issues to disappear from public discussion. He has emphasized talking about economic reforms. Enrique Peña Nieto•Victory for his security policies: Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested in February 2014 in Sinaloa, Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto•The biggest humiliation to Peña Nieto’s security policy was when Guzmán escaped from prison (for the second time),  in July 2015, by exiting through a tunnel that led to a nearby construction site.•His two escapes have symbolized institutional failure and corruption in Mexico. El Chapo’s escape•http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/15/world/mexico-el-chapo-escape/  Enrique Peña Nieto•Peña Nieto announced the recapture of “El Chapo” by Mexican authorities following a shootout on 8 January 2016. Enrique Peña Nieto•Recapturing Mexico’s most wanted man was a boost for Peña Nieto’s government.•However, his administration faces the following challenges:▫Plunging currency▫Falling oil price▫Public distrust in institutions and government.▫Rule of law is in crisis▫Levels of violence continue to be high. Conclusion•Mexican political system has changed since 1980’s•PRI does no longer dominate political system•Electoral reforms have allowed opposition to win seats in Congress, governorships, mayoralties, and presidency.•Transition to democracy culminated in the 200 elections.•Mexico has an imperfect democracy with many challenges.