Author Description

Designed as an introduction to the history and mechanism of Mexican politics, this well-known text works within the larger framework of comparative politics. Combining the clarity and accessibility of the first edition, this fully updated second edition now includes the latest research in the field, examining not only the roots of Mexico's contemporary political culture, but its structure of government and electoral process. The book begins with an introductory essay that offers a rationale for why the reader should study other cultures and compares and contrasts the various unique features of Mexico with other countries, including the United States. It then explores the specifics, looking into such issues as corruption, the role of interest groups in Mexico, American influence on political decisions, the bi-lateral relationship, and foreign policy. The book also examines the nature and recruitment of political leaders, how decisions are reached, elections and political participation, political values and their consequences, the impact of political and economic modernization since 1988, and the possibilities for Mexico's future. The new second edition includes coverage of the NAFTA agreement, the Chiapas uprising, the 1994 elections, the new Zedillo administration, and the 1995 economic crisis.