Prospects for Democracy in Mexico

George W. Grayson

Transaction Publishers - History - 310 pages

Second only to the Soviet Union, Mexico is the country most important to the security and well-being of the United States. Its stability is therefore a major concern. As Prospects for Democracy in Mexico documents, there are problems. This ancient Aztec nation now suffers the worst economic conditions since its revolution exploded in 1910. The economy has been as flat as a tortilla since the oil boom fizzled in the early 1980s, and the purchasing power of workers has declined 50 percent in recent years. Open and disguised unemployment afflicts nearly half of the 26-million-member workforce. External debt keeps upward pressure on interest rates, while the government and private sector must meet $12 billion annually in foreign-debt payments. Widespread pollution continues to contaminate the already fetid air of metropolitan areas such as Mexico City.

Similar conditions in the United States or Western Europe would ignite demonstrations, catalyze strikes, and launch the careers of demagogic politicians. Mexico remains remarkably quiet-with discontent channeled though legitimate institutions such as the Congress, mass media, and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). This volume dissects the current situation and forecasts future developments. Diplomats, scholars, public officials, and businessmen contribute sixteen chapters and answer a number of the most critical questions.

It is unlikely that this collection will be surpassed for comprehensive coverage and intellectual balance for years to come. It is supported by in-depth statistical tables covering every phase of Mexican life: from unemployment, religious affiliation, inflation rates, presidential electoral results, military expenditures, and the size of the armed forces. In addition, the volume concludes with a selected biography that Latin Americanists, political scientists, and policy-makers will find essential.

George W. Grayson is the Class of 1938 Professor of Government at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. His books include The Mexican Labor Machine: Power, Politics, and Patronage (1989); Oil and Mexican Foreign Policy (1988); The United States and Mexico; Patterns of Influence (1984); and The Politics of Mexican Oil (1980)

Contents

• 1 The Presidency the Party and the State: 3
• 2 The Bureaucracy: 15
• 3 Electoral Trends: 35
• 4 Voter Abstentionism: 63
• 5 The Presidential Nomination Process: 75
• 6 The Military: 85
• 7 The Press: 93
• 8 The Church: 113
• 9 The Labor Movement: 123
• 10 Structural Reforms: 149
• A Mexican Government Perspective: 161
• A Private Sector Perspective: 173
• A Bankers Perspective: 179
• 14 Demography Development and Migration: 203
• The Most Divisive Bilateral Issue: 217
• 16 USMexican Energy Relations: 231
• 17 A LoveHate Relationship with North America: 237
• Vital Statistics 19401983: 263
• Unemployment 19401988: 265
• University Enrollment 19401984 in thousands: 266
• Radio and Television 19551986: 267
• Military Expenditures and Number of Armed Forces 19651985: 268
• Gross Domestic Product GDP and Percent Change of GDP 19401987: 269
• Mexican Exports and Imports 19401988: 271
• Inflation Rates 19401988: 273
• External Debt 19501988: 274
• Labor Disputes19401988: 275
• Production and Export of Petroleum 19401988: 277
• Flow of Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico 19401986: 279
• USMexican Trade 19401986: 280
• US Direct Investment in Mexico 19501987: 282
• Legal and Illegal Mexicans Migrating to the US 19501288: 284
• Presidential Elections 19281988: 286
• National Election Results for Chamber of Deputies 19611985: 288
• Mexican Political Parties and Candidates 1988: 289
• Gacetilla Prices of Nine Leading Newspapers: 291
• Selected Bibliography: 292
• Index: 296

Bibliographic information

• Title: Prospects for Democracy in Mexico
• Editor: George W. Grayson
• Publisher: Transaction Publishers
• ISBN: 1412832209, 9781412832205
• Length: 310 pages
• Subjects: History / Latin America / General; History / Latin America / Mexico