Contemporary Mexican Politics

by Emily Edmonds-Poli, David A. Shirk

This comprehensive, current, and engaging text explores Mexico's political development over the course of the twentieth century and examines the most important policy issues facing Mexico in the twenty-first century. Beginning with the 1910 Revolution, the first half of the book explains the creation of Mexico's single-party system, headed by the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). It includes a thorough treatment of the "classic" PRI system's characteristics, a knowledgeable account of the PRI's demise, and an insightful examination of how the country's institutions evolved under two successive PAN (National Action Party) presidential administrations. The second half of the book analyzes the most pressing policy issues facing Mexican society, including poverty and inequality, gender and indigenous issues, rule of law, and trade relations with the United States and other countries. How these challenges are addressed will be crucial for the future of democracy in Mexico.

418 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Samuel A De La Paz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This textbook gives a solid quick history to Mexican politics. Major tensions between privatization and nationalization give great context for current Mexican politics, as well as the coverage of the revolution.