THE (APPARENT) DECLINE IN CORRUPTION IN MEXICO
Due to its current state, it is vital that one understands the political climate in which Mexico is currently struggling with, particularly in regards to the unfortunate corruption within the government. Although many different factors have contributed to this problem, the two of most relevance in this essay are the economic situation and the activities of the drug cartels. In addition to how these events have led up to this moment, it is also necessary to analyze how these can potentially affect issues such as NAFTA, immigration and the possible second rise of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
First and foremost, in order to make an educated comparison, it is important to consider the events that have led up to the current state of corruption within the Mexican government. One particular aspect of this issue would be the overall condition of the nation’s economy and how inequality has contributed to the bigger issue. For starters, there is a noticeable divide between the rich and poor, and this income gap has not improved for quite some time. Although Mexico is a country with substantial wealth, the income inequality causes this wealth to be concentrated amongst a select few[X]. Such an imbalance creates friction between these groups of people due to this sort of systematic hierarchy in which not all citizens are presented with the same opportunities. Such a situation is problematic because it then leaves many
The corruption in the government, one of the main problems in the majority of countries in the world, causing death, poverty and impunity in the life of the persons. People think that government corruption is just buying votes to win the elections, but this is just a little part of the corruption. The corruption of the government has been present for a long time ago, covering a great variety of problems in the society, like the stealing the money from the people, alliances with the narco, using the power just a favor of the politicians, increasing the prices of food, fuel and public services just to make more money. The people do not have the necessary services to survive and if the services are available they are expensive. In some parts of the world the government is colluding with the delinquency, in the case of Mexico, the government is colluded with the narco. The corruption in Mexico has permeated several segments of society like political, economic, and social. Also it has greatly affected the country’s legitimacy, transparency, accountability, and effectiveness; knowing the majority of the people of
As once put by Mexican Nobel laureate Octavio Paz, Mexico is a land of “super-imposed pasts” (McCormick, p.326). It continues to be and is seen as a melding pot of its European and Native American ideas about society, law and government. Its history has had a major influence on the political culture of Mexico, seen through years of revolution, violence and corruption. Mexico is a considered a new democracy, but there is a tension still seen between democracy and authoritarianism. The country we see today has impressive growth yet is still enduring poverty. It’s a geographically diverse country, with a population of approximately 106million people. Latin American political culture is seen as “elitist,
Citizens take pride in their economic independence, mexico still values community in its cities and towns, its plazas and schools, and its work organizations. In Mexican culture the expectation of working and socializing together is a key component of society, and has a basis in the strong ties formed within the family. However, lack of faith in the government is a result of widespread political corruption. Even at the lowest levels, police officers readily accept bribes from those wishing to avoid the nuisance of a traffic ticket or a night in prison. In recent years, the government has begun addressing this corruption by reducing the number of state-owned businesses and calling on Mexicans to refuse to give bribes. This, however, has proven difficult, and the progress has been slow.
This report provides data on Mexico which includes the economy, geography, its society, and government. It also discusses how Mexico’s economy is becoming orientated toward manufacturing. In addition, it shows that the GDP rate is not growing. The report explores the transnational issues facing the country which are international conflicts, refugees and domestically displaced persons, and drug trafficking. This source will contribute to my final project because it provides facts on the measures I am using to determine the development of a country.
Since labor unions in Mexico were originally formed in the early 1900s, they have maintained a unique system of collaboration and collusion with the government of Mexico. Though many may refer to their system as one of “corruption,” it is a system that has become so deeply imbedded in the relationship between labor unions and the government, that it is now a well-understood unofficial network. Over the past 20 years in Mexico, a great deal of progress has been made toward the liberalization of the Mexican markets. Previously government-owned companies have been privatized, foreign investment has boomed, and a once one-party system has just recently
The changes in key government leadership positions have had significant implications on Mexico 's drug trade business (Lupsha 1995). Take the example of one of Mexico 's leading drug traffickers, Juan Garcia Abrego who is widely known as the inventor of Mexican drug trafficking. Abrego 's drug smuggling operations flourished under former President Salina 's administration. When former President Zedillo entered office in December of 1994, Abrego lost the high-level protection provided under the former President Salina. Without this level of protection, Abregos influence in the drug trade industry decreased dramatically to the point of bankruptcy, in a traditional business sense. During this transformation, other well-connected cartels gained uncontested access to large drug trafficking corridors once controlled by Abrego. Despite Abregos deteriorating drug influence in Mexico, President Zedillo put a large bounty on him, making Abrego the most wanted drug smuggler in Mexico. Nevertheless, Abrego 's eventual capture was highly celebrated by the United States as a sign of Mexico 's increasing efforts and dedication to the elimination of illicit drug smuggling operations. In my opinion the example of Abrego 's lost influence and highly celebrated capture directly relates to the politic rhetoric and corruption that is associated with
In the Shadow of the Mexican Revolution by Hector Aquilar Camin and Lorenzo Meyer tells a chronological story of contemporary Mexico from the fall of Porfirio Diaz in 1910 to the July elections in 1989. The time period that Camin and Meyer portray in Mexico is one of corruption, civil war, and failure. While Mexico would undergo an era described as the “Mexican Miracle” where the Mexican country would begin to see a positive output in the country, it would be short-lived and Mexico would continue to fall behind as other countries progressed. While In the Shadow of the Mexican Revolution is comprised of facts throughout history, one cannot help but feel a sense of sympathy for Mexico. While their corruption, political, and economical,
At first, Mexican drug cartels were structured just like family owned businesses. There would be a family member who was the main drug lord and cousins and uncles of the family would be the body guards and drug dealers. After the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) lost their power within the Mexican government the structure of drug cartels became much more complex. A hierarchical diffusion is seen within the drug cartel system because the drugs spread from one important drug lord to another, and we generally see this happening in the urban part of Mexico, more than in the rural areas. A corporate structure began forming as hierarchies began developing under drug lords and more people got involved. Professor Guillermo Trejo of Notre Dame 's Kellogg Institute claims that once the PRI lost their power there was a rapid increase in violence. This is because of Mexico’s former President, Felipe Calderón, who politically associates with the National Action Party (PAN). In 2006 President Calderón declared war on the drug cartels. This milestone triggered a huge change within Mexico’s international relations, government, and culture.
Some background facts about Mexico: The place of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income
In 2006, Mexico began to crack down on drug trafficking operations in union with the United States. Why all of the sudden? In regard to that question, my paper will include a history of events leading up to this sudden crack down on drug trafficking, from its start in the 1960’s until today. After the history of the drug war, I will discuss the main states involved like the United States and Mexico itself. Along with their main goal of eliminating drug trafficking all together, although it is a very high expectation. Mexico has sent out 50,000 soldiers that are being paid less than a burrito vendor, in attempt to lessen the
Mexico 's governing political parties and political history has created what is now the Mexican adherence to a traumatic experiences of its contemporary political culture. Mexico’s contemporary political culture consist of sandals, accusations, corruption. The long standing of political corruption has evolved to be a corrupt culture in Mexico and lack of trust from citizens. One of the most known corrupt events in Mexico has been the Pemexgate. “In 2001 it was brought to light that funds from the workers union of PEMEX had been illegally used to support the campaign of Francisco Labastida, the candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, in the 2000 elections, in which Mr. Fox won” (Milloy, 2002). PEMEX is the second largest petroleum company stationed in Mexico that is used in the states of Mexico and is exported to other countries. This partnership made many elites richer and elected officials in a asymmetrical and illegal technique. Another example of corruption in Mexico crime rates that have not been solved due to corruption with in the law enforcement. In the city Juarez, Mexico there has been a reports of hundreds of women have been sexually assaulted, abused and then killed over the past
The government has made some gains, but at a heavy price. A total of 34,612 people have died in drug-related killings in Mexico in the first four years (Siddique). Most of these killing are between cartel rivals fighting for the control of territories. There are five cartels operating in Mexico: the Sinaloa, the Gulf, Juarez, Tijuana, the Zetas. The major cartels are the Gulf, Sinaloa and Juarez (Cook 21). Many of these cartels have joined together forming powerful alliances known as the “Federation” (Cook 17). The cartels work together, but they remain independent organizations.
According to James Painter in his BBC News article “Latin America faces year of change”, Latin America suffers from social violence, kidnapping, drug trafficking, child pornography, lack of women’s rights, and little accountability over the region’s law makers and authorities which can lead to government corruption (para. 12). Government corruption can be defined as political power used by government leaders for private gain and to maintain their power as a government official. Most of the times these corrupt politicians in Latin America say they are accomplishing apprehension of criminals to the best of their abilities when, in reality, they commit the same multitude of crimes. Politicians are able to maintain their power as a result of
Over the past years, Mexico has experienced extreme changes due to the violent drug wars. Violence has presented itself in every neighborhood, every street corner, and even in the schools. Chalk outlines are seen drawn on various streets of homicide scenes. Thousands of people have lost their lives in the hands of drug traffickers. Life itself in Mexico, has taken a change for the worse. One may ask what the reasons are for this wave of violence. The most logical answer, of course, is to blame the criminals. It is the drug lords who are smuggling, transporting, and selling these drugs. They should be the ones held responsible, right? The answer to this question is deeply rooted in the history of corruption in the Mexican Government. The
Politics are still corrupt and scandal-ridden, with parties often focused more on individuals than on programmes for action. And while progress has been made, the Mexican state is still far from comfortable with the concepts of accountability and transparency.