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!