Democracy in “Two Mexicos” : Political Institutions in Oaxaca and Nuevo León

This book explains some of the ways in which deteriorated socioeconomic conditions (inequality in particular) and institutional limitations (corruption, electoral exclusion, and a weak rule of law, among others) affect political stability in extremely unequal developing countries, like Mexico, where democracy is not yet fully consolidated. This book provides an explanation of some of the root causes of civil upheaval and violent political conflict in Mexico by examining the cases of Oaxaca and Nuevo Leon in the period from 2000 to 2006. Oaxaca and Nuevo Leon represent 'two Mexicos': the rich Mexico and the poor Mexico. The author assesses two main groups of explanatory factors-socioeconomic and institutional-and examines some of the mechanisms through which these variables operate and interact with other factors (e.g., resources, opportunities, and government actions) to generate massive political turmoil. Evidence presented here shows that institutional factors are the primary sources of major political conflict in Mexico. Socioeconomic factors are significant but not predominant Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Introduction....Pages 1-5 Front Matter....Pages 7-7 Political Factionalism in “Democratic” Mexico: The Context, the Variables, and the Main Actors....Pages 9-29 Explaining Political Factionalism in “Two Mexicos”: An Empirical Approach....Pages 31-49 Front Matter....Pages 51-51 Political Contention in a Southern Mexican State: Oaxaca....Pages 53-70 Four Episodes of Political Factionalism in Oaxaca....Pages 71-89 Explaining Political Factionalism in a Poor Southern Mexican State....Pages 91-108 Front Matter....Pages 109-109 Politics and the Economy in Northern Mexico: Nuevo León....Pages 111-125 Explaining Political Cohesion in a Rich Northern Mexican State....Pages 127-146 Conclusion: Effective Rules, Economic Inclusion, and Political Stability; Lessons for Young and Unequal Democracies....Pages 147-156 Epilogue: Mexico After 2006 and the Case of Nuevo León....Pages 157-164 Back Matter....Pages 165-219 This book provides an explanation of some of the root causes of civil upheaval and violent political conflict in Mexico by examining the cases of Oaxaca and Nuevo Le̤n in the period from 2000 to 2006. Oaxaca and Nuevo Leon represent 'two Mexicos': the rich Mexico and the poor Mexico. The author assesses two main groups of explanatory factors - socioeconomic and institutional - and examines some of the mechanisms through which these variables operate and interact with other factors (e.g., resources, opportunities, and government actions) to generate massive political turmoil. Evidence presented here shows that institutional factors are the primary sources of major political conflict in Mexico. Socioeconomic factors are significant but not predominant