Political factionalism in "democratic" Mexico: the context, the variables, and the main actors -- Explaining political factionalism in "two Mexicos": an empirical approach -- Political contention in a southern Mexican state: Oaxaca -- Four episodes of political factionalism in Oaxaca -- Explaining political factionalism in a poor southern Mexican state -- Politics and the economy in northern Mexico: Nuevo León -- Explaining political cohesion in a rich northern Mexican state -- Conclusion: effective rules, economic inclusion, and political stability: lessons for young and unequal democracies -- Epilogue: Mexico after 2006 and the case of Nuevo León
Summary
This book provides an explanation of some of the root causes of civil upheaval and violent political conflict in Mexico by examining the cases of Oaxaca and Nuevo Le̤n in the period from 2000 to 2006. Oaxaca and Nuevo Leon represent 'two Mexicos': the rich Mexico and the poor Mexico. The author assesses two main groups of explanatory factors - socioeconomic and institutional - and examines some of the mechanisms through which these variables operate and interact with other factors (e.g., resources, opportunities, and government actions) to generate massive political turmoil. Evidence presented here shows that institutional factors are the primary sources of major political conflict in Mexico. Socioeconomic factors are significant but not predominant