Mexican Politics: Is Mexico a success story? Not for Mexicans

This analysis, from a Canadian paper, emphasizes the positives of political and economic change in Mexico, but it does present some of the reasons why many Mexicans do not see their present - or future - so positively.

Is Mexico a success story? Not for Mexicans - The Globe and Mail: "Mexico just celebrated its 200th anniversary of independence. The country held a big national party, remembered past political heroes, toasted its accomplishments. The national party notwithstanding, Mexico seems nervous, even gloomy, about its future prospects. To outsiders, Mexico is a success story. After 70 years of authoritarianism, it’s become a lively democracy, with a free press, fair elections and a growing economy.

The drug cartels, if they succeed, would kidnap the country’s future. International ratings give Mexico high marks for political stability, tax competitiveness and good fiscal policy but very low ratings for security and rigid labour markets.

Democracy led to liberalization of some of the economy. These sectors have been the most productive and the creators of most of the new jobs. But the old hand of authoritarian rule and the laws and institutions that were favoured during those decades (such as public-sector unions and Pemex, the state-owned oil company) are hard to change. They represent the Mexico of stability, nationalism and statism. The nostalgia for policies that created those conditions has not disappeared, democracy notwithstanding.

As in the U.S., Mexico’s political system is gridlocked, with the President and congressional majority from different parties. Jockeying is already under way for the next presidential election. Political deadlock and drugs seem to have made many Mexicans forget all the excellent changes in their country." Nov. 11, 2010