This course analyzes Mexico’s 20th and early 21st century political and economic development. Why did Mexico experience political stability under civilian rule and economic growth until the 1970s while other Latin American countries endured brutal military regimes? What accounts for Mexico’s severe economic crises of 1982 and 1994? Why did one party dominate politics for 71 years but lose in 2000? How “democratic” is Mexico’s new democracy since 2000 and what challenges does it face? The course examines Mexico’s post-Revolutionary politics, the characteristics of the national political regime during the classic period of stability with economic growth, and the tumultuous political and economic environment from the 1970s to the end of the century. This material will be presented chronologically, but rather than a descriptive history, we will focus on explaining political and economic outcomes. The final part of the course examines key themes in Mexico’s fully competitive democracy since 2000, including trade, immigration, violence, drug trafficking, political corruption, and the concentration of political power. 

By completing this course, students will gain new knowledge and skills. They will have a better understanding of Mexico’s society, politics, and economy as well as authoritarian regimes, democratization, and partisan political competition. They will also gain analytical skills for critically evaluating social science arguments, especially those rooted in historical institutional analysis and will have ample opportunity to improve their writing and social science reading-comprehension skills.