The Mexican Perspective: Understanding Their Culture
The Faces of Mexican Society
Patrick Osio, Jr
(From Patrick Osio, Jr.’s The Mexican Perspective)
There are many faces to Mexican society – the ruling class is not just made up of those in government, but is referred to as those whose influence is of such standing that they are truly among the ruling class without having to be in public office. This is not to say that they can tell the government what to do, but they do wield quite a bit of influence, particularly when it comes to receiving special treatment. But conversely, they are expected and do, go along with whatever government edict is put in force and they also have to be subservient to the ruling elite.
Until Vicente Fox toppled the PRI’s hold on the Mexican version of the White House, Los Pinos, by being elected as the first opposition party president of Mexico, the true ruling class was made up of a pyramid of government officials, headed by the sitting president – he was the virtual emperor of Mexico during his six years in office. Then came the cabinet secretaries with the Secretario de Gobernacion leading the pack. Then came the under-secretaries of each ministry. Their power and influence on the sitting president, determined the ministry’s importance. After them came the state governors who were the caciques of their corresponding states, flowing below them their states’ various secretaries. Then came the mayor’s of the important cities, followed by their own appointees.
Each office was like a spider’s web with multitudes of fibers connecting each base of power at the federal and state levels. But it was all connected to the top – the presidency. They all had to be loyal to him or lose office, power, and be out of grace either for good or at the very least until the end of the sitting president’s term.
The long shadow of power was the Partido Revolucionario Institucional, the PRI. At some point the PRI, became the government and the government became the PRI. To rise through the ranks, one needed to be active, loyal, obedient and silent. To climb rapidly, one had to have a high level sponsor, or be the relative of a high-ranking PRI member. And to get to the top – one had to have and be all the above, and be very, very cunning. To become president only one vote was needed – the sitting president’s – he chose his successor by the process called ‘el dedazo’ (selection by pointing his finger in choosing his successor). The president was historically chosen from among cabinet members.
The elections to office were not determined at the polls, it was a forgone conclusion that the PRI candidate would win. They would go through the exercise of the campaign ritual; the candidate(s) would stomp the countryside giving speech after speech. It was all well choreographed – the party loyal would make sure large crowds were gathered. Since the PRI controlled the government and all significant labor unions it was not a difficult task. And when and if necessary, it was the PRI controlled election officials that counted the votes – so majestically whomever the PRI (or President) wanted elected – that candidate always won.
For 71 years this is the way it was, so it became part of the Mexican psyche, part of the culture – it seemed for some time this would never change. In 2000, it changed, but it remains to be seen whether it will be sustainable or return to the old ways either by the new ruling elite, or if they fail in improving the lot of Mexicans, it could change yet again to a third political party possibly the PRD (Partido Revolucionario Democratico – mostly made up of former PRI disenchanted leftist members) or return to the PRI.
The non-government elite continue to exercise a great deal of influence as their wealth has not been disturbed, as they also continue to be the captains of industry. The former government PRI elitists, though out of office, are still a considerable force as their members still control a high percentage of state governments, and have a plurality in both chambers of Congress, plus quite a number of bureaucrats within each of the ministries.
(Read the entire chapter in the: The Mexican Perspective available for electronic download purchase – read more about the book at: http://www.hispanicvista.com/sales/book_sale.htm)
- Table of Contents
- Excerpts from the manual
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- About the Author
- Patrick Osio, Jr.
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