As part of the Baker Institute Latin America Initiative"s Vecinos Lecture Series, a panel of experts on the Mexican presidential election of 2012 will address the possible political scenarios, the country"s economic outlook and how transnational crime affect both Mexico and the United States.
After seven decades of single-party rule under the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Mexico"s 2000 presidential election ushered in a new era of democratic principles in the nation"s politics. The very close 2006 presidential race demonstrated how the emerging multiparty system has the ability to further fragment an already diverse nation. Drug-related violence during President Felipe Calderón"s administration has led to an alarming number of deaths, which has further polarized the Mexican people. The images and news of scandals and violence that have plagued media coverage of Mexico have also taken a toll on the tourism industry. In addition, oil revenues are declining, and Mexico has one of the lowest rates of tax collection in Latin America. Now, after the administrations of two democratically elected presidents, the 2012 election will test the strength of Mexico"s developing democracy.
Featured Speakers
- "Political Scenarios for Mexico's 2012 Presidential Elections"
Joy Langston, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science, CIDE - "Transnational Crime and Public Security for Mexico and the United States"
Jorge Chabat, Ph.D.
Professor of International Studies and Researcher, CIDE - "Economic Perspectives"
Alberto Dￃﾭaz-Cayeros, Ph.D.
Director of the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, UCSD