Political Stability and Democracy in Mexico: The Perfect Dictatorship?

by Dan A. Cothran

Overview

Mexico stands apart for having been ruled by one political party since the 1920s, and this study examines the remarkable political stability Mexico has experienced over the past seven decades. Cothran argues that the country's unusual stability has been the result of the interaction of six factors: the institutionalized nature of the political system; the effectiveness of the regime in achieving rapid economic growth; the adaptability of the regime to emerging pressures; the cohesiveness of the political elites; the judicious use of coercion; and Mexico's proximity to the United States. However, this historical stability is facing new challenges in the 1990s. The author analyzes the changing political, social, and economic landscape in Mexico, and forecasts whether and how Mexico's semi-authoritarian political system will survive.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275943455
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/25/1994
Series:	Critical Studies in Education and
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)
Lexile:	1480L (what's this?)

About the Author

DAN A. COTHRAN is Professor of Political Science at Northern Arizona University, where he specializes in Mexican and Latin American politics and comparative public policy.

Table of Contents

Figures and Tables
Preface
Mexican Political Stability
The Institutionalization of the Mexican State
Economic Growth and Political Support
Adaptability and the Crises of 1968-78
Elite Unity and Political Stability
Carlos Salinas and the Revolutionary Regime
Prospects for Democracy and Stability
Bibliography
Index