This book investigates the strategic choices made by Mexican opposition parties during their long struggle to democratize the country. It addresses the puzzle of why, despite formal guarantees of independence, opposition parties often eschewed the use of newly established autonomous electoral courts, opting instead for traditional methods of mobilization and bargaining with the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party. Drawing on extensive interviews and archival research, the author explores the decisions of the National Action Party and the Party of the Democratic Revolution, arguing that their choices significantly impacted the ruling party and paved the way for the 2000 presidential victory.

This book is regarded as a comprehensive explanation of Mexico's democratic transition, offering a novel perspective on the role of opposition activists and electoral courts. The author's extensive fieldwork, including hundreds of interviews and original archival research, provides a deep and nuanced understanding of the period. The work is noted for its detailed exploration of the strategic decisions made by major political parties during critical junctures of democratization. Its analysis of why formal institutions were sometimes bypassed in favor of traditional political tactics offers valuable insights into the complexities of democratic change.