DEMOCRATIC TRANSITIONS IN MEXICO AND URUGUAY 3/3/2010.
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Transcript of DEMOCRATIC TRANSITIONS IN MEXICO AND URUGUAY 3/3/2010.
DEMOCRATIC TRANSITIONS IN MEXICO AND URUGUAY
3/3/2010
Mexico: Breakdown of the Old RegimeThe PRI System Managed elections The party serves to share power between
the revolutionary factions without the destructive rivalries that elections fostered
The party incorporates the mobilized peasantry through corporatist structures (state-mediated relations between business and workers) and land reform
Presidential nomination of successor
Mexico: Breakdown of the Old Regime Why does the system fail?
Economic crisis of the 1980s Rising levels of education and wealth Rising levels of mobilization and democratic
expectations Democratic transition in Mexico has
been about transforming (v. building or restoring) institutions to make them function democratically
Mexico: Transitional DemocracyThe 1988 – 2000 Period: Elections take on a
genuine character 1988: the election of Carlos Salinas (PRI),
the defeat of Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, and the rise of the PRD and the PAN
1994: the election of Ernesto Zedillo (PRI) 2000: the election of Vicente Fox (PAN)
IS THIS THE MOMENT OF CONSOLIDATION?
Mexico: Questionable ConsolidationThe 2006 Presidential Election Was the election free and fair? Was the government neutral? Were the actors abiding by the rules of the
game? Did the candidates/parties respect the
voters? Were civil liberties and human rights
respected? Was the media free and fair?
Mexico: Continuing Challenges to Consolidation Underdeveloped democratic institutions
are vulnerable to manipulation Failure to internalize democratic
principles Tenuous rule of law Poverty, inequality, and slow economic
growth Challenges to the legitimacy of the
current administration
Uruguay: Structures of Government Constitutional Democracy Federal System
Central Government Executive: President (5 yr term, plurality with
majority runoff) Legislature: General Assembly
Chamber of Deputies (99 seats, 5 yr terms, proportional representation by district)
Chamber of Senators (31 seats, 5 yr terms, proportional representation)
Judicial: Supreme Court 19 departments
Uruguay: Breakdown of the Old Regime 1973-1984: Period of military dictatorship 1980: first constitutional referendum
(57.2% against) 1984: growing political and economic
unrest leads to mass protests 1985: Tupamaros renounce violence and
join the regular political process 1986: Law of Nullity (applies to both sides)
Uruguay: Transitional DemocracyThe party system after the transition from
authoritarianism was largely a continuation of that which had existed in prior periods of electoral competition
Major Parties Frente Amplio (Broad Front; leftist, social
democratic to socialist) Partido Colorado (Colorado Party; left, liberal to
social democratic) Partido Nacional, aka Partido Blanco (National
Party; right, liberal conservative)
Uruguay: Consolidation
Effectiveness 51% of Uruguayans have a good opinion of public institutions
(highest in Latin America) 48% are highly satisfied with state services (highest in Latin
America by more than 10%) Perceptions of public sector corruption (45%) and politicians’
corruption (27%) are the lowest in Latin America
Cleavages Uruguay is characterized by homogeneity
Accountability Alternation in power Reliance on referendum and plebicites Perception of judicial independence is the highest in Latin
America
Uruguay: Consolidation
Participation 19% of people take part in authorized political
demonstrations, the 2nd highest in Latin America The majority think that protests are normal and
indispensibleSupport for Democracy 66% think that voting is the best way to achieve change I wouldn’t mind a non-democratic government in power if it
could resolve economic problems. Uruguay: 31% yes Lat American average: 53% yes
In general, would you say that the country is governed for the benefit of a few powerful groups? Uruguay: 40% yes Lat American average: 70% yes
Uruguay: Consolidation
Statistical Indicators GDP: $31.3 billion USD (2008) Debt /GDP: 57% (2008) (interest payments alone were 2.5% of GDP in
2006) Inflation: 9.2% (2008) Unemployment: 7.6% (2008)Wealth and Poverty HDI for Uruguay is 0.852, which gives the country a rank of 46th out of
177 countries with data (2008)Income Distribution GINI index: 44.9 (2008) (high overall but the 2nd most egalitarian in Latin
America)Public sector spending Welfare
Universal free healthcare Free k-12 education (though only primary school is compulsory and drop-out is
common) Public sector employment
Questions
What is democracy? Is democracy a “good” thing? Why or why not?
At what stage in transition to democracy is Mexico today? Uruguay?
A NOTE on policy papers: Do not try to "solve" democracy in your country. Instead pick one aspect of the democratic system where you perceive a significant flaw and then propose specific policies to address that problem. KEEP IT SMALL!