Revolutionary Politics: Mexico I. Backdrop: from Tumult to “Order & Progress” (1821-1910) III. Theories of Revolution and the Mexican Revolution IV. The PRI & the Mexican “Miracle” (1940-1982) I. Backdrop: from Tumult to “Order & Progress” A. Political Instability (1821-76) 75 changes in the chief executive in 55 years 4 interim or provisional presidents for every 1 president chosen constitutionally regional warlords (caudillos) resisted national authority when they were not fighting to gain control of the government bitter conflict over church-state relations -
conservatives back the Catholic Church French invasion & occupation (1861-67) defeated militarily, thus paving way for a return to electoral politics Porfirio Díaz is hero of the 1862 victory at Puebla
B. The Porfiriato (1876-1911): authoritarian modernization under Díaz -
work to build infrastructure & attract foreign capital in commodity exports GDP growth rate is 2x population growth railroads expand from 400mi to 15,000mi. mining & oil extraction welcomed 1883 land law led to massive concentration most smallholders lost their land 134 million acres of fertile land titled to approximately 300 families middle class kept out of politics Díaz controlled politics through fraud & repression from 1884 onward no cabinet members under 60 by 1910 his friends grew rich in cabinet & as state governors many more landless peasants than ever before the end to traditional communal lands (ejidos) left many at brink of starvation and many more w/ no path out of poverty these 2 forces will push Díaz into exile by 1911… II. The Mexican Revolution (1910-1940) A. The Civil War (1910-1920) 2 revolutions fought simultaneously & violently POLITICAL: “no reelection”(Francisco Madero) SOCIAL: “land for all”(Emiliano Zapata) social, not socialist Zapata wants traditional ejido lands returned a series of bloody conflicts led by different leaders in different regions at different times roughly 1 in 10 Mexicans died in the conflict
B. Constitution of 1917: re: POLITICAL REVOLUTION: -
re: SOCIAL JUSTICE: land reform labor laws government ownership of natural resources
C. The Rise of Plutarco Calles (1920-34) More moderate generals become presidents: Alvaro Obregón (1920-24) Plutarco Calles (1924-28) Obregón assassinated after reelection in 1928 PNR established in 1929: elite, cadre party w/ PEC as “jefe máximo” Calles is the key figure behind the PNR candidates effort to avoid future assassinations & strife D. Lázaro Cárdenas(1934-40) Mobilized & organized masses (incl. “militia”) SOCIOECONOMIC REFORMS: land reform -
social services nationalization of oil & railroads MASS PARTY created: PNR becomes PRM w/ CNC, CTM, military, & “popular” branches w/ diverse support & conflicting policy priorities PRESIDENT rules, uses dedazo to pick successor, & steps down III. Theories of Revolution & the Mexican Revolution Q: Which of these theories applies to this revolution?
IV. The PRI & The Mexican “Miracle” (1940-82) A. CORPORATISM: inclusive cooptation selective coercion
C. EXECUTIVE CENTRALISM: President can remove governors has majority w/in a weak legislature approves all PRI candidates
IV. (cont.)
D. “PENDULUM” THEORY: if you stay in, your ideological wing will get its shot... Pendulum Politics in Mexico
E. STATE CAPITALISM: state control over key resources & sectors along w/ protection led import-substituting industrialization (ISI) successes: 6% average annual GDP growth for 40 years low inflation during 1941-1970 NEGATIVE SIDE of Mexican “miracle”: -
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