To what extent were the political developments between 1940-1982 significant to The Mexican Industrial Revolution?
The political developments between 1940 and 1982 were to a great extent significant to The Mexican Industrial Revolution. It was both internal political developments driven by strong presidents and external influence and relations which were the crucial factors behind The Mexican Industrial Revolution.
To assess the significance of Mexico's political developments, one has to investigate the different policies, laws, and reforms that were implemented between 1940 and 1982. In 1946, a new electoral law was passed by Mexico’s 45th president, Manuel Ávila Camacho. The law implemented requirements that made it impossible for a communist party to run and near impossible for opposite parties to operate legally. Left were Camacho's political party called Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (United States, Congressional Research Service). This was a significant law as the next three decades were under the PRI government. Major social classes (workers, peasants, public sector and the army) was represented in the party, resulting in a stable political period. This created an environment with sustained growth and a unified political goal of industrialization. During the 1940's import-substitution policies, where foreign import of goods was replaced with domestic production of goods, was a major political factor behind the industrialization. High import duties and restrictions on imports paved the way for domestic production (Ros). Later also policies of export expansion were introduced, where industries were given favorable prices for energy and resources and international promotions, and this further pushed the industrialization onwards (Ros). In the early 1960s, Mexicans started to criticize their one-party democracy. Mexico experienced labour unrest and political protest during that time (Clark). The problem diminished in the mid-1970s’ after the discovery of massive oil resources. The government also implemented policies to support industrial expansion through public investments in energy and infrastructure. In 1982, the dramatic drop in oil prices sent Mexico into an economic tailspin. Inflation and foreign debt rise steeply while living standards and economic growth fell (Clark). Also, the poor political management and leadership of José López Portillo (president 1976-1982) contributed to the tailspin.
Political stability in a changing Mexico
The above political developments mainly emerged from presidents and the administration. Mexico has never had full democracy, though during The Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) democracy was further embraced. But the political behavior of one of the most important presidents assured a broad popular support for the government and its policies.
Presidents Camacho used propaganda to unite the Mexico’s population (Rankin [286]). Camacho did not necessary need full national support for industrialization. The administration had support from Mexican industrialists, who stood to gain from the industrialization. But Camacho’s propaganda gave him further support from the middle and upper class.
They had gained money from Mexico’s and U.S. trade alliance through World War II and now wanted to spend the extra money on the products they had seen featured in the Mexican/U.S. propaganda. By 1945, a new consumer culture appeared in Mexico. Camacho used the consumers demand to gain popular support for his industrial plans. He promised that national industrial development would give greater access to the products they demanded. This meant the different social classes all benefitted from the industrial revolution. Camacho and his administration's relationship with U.S. was a crucial reason for this success and additionally the prosperous starting point of the industrialization.
Presidents Camacho used propaganda to unite the Mexico’s population (Rankin [286]). Camacho did not necessary need full national support for industrialization. The administration had support from Mexican industrialists, who stood to gain from the industrialization. But Camacho’s propaganda gave him further support from the middle and upper class.
They had gained money from Mexico’s and U.S. trade alliance through World War II and now wanted to spend the extra money on the products they had seen featured in the Mexican/U.S. propaganda. By 1945, a new consumer culture appeared in Mexico. Camacho used the consumers demand to gain popular support for his industrial plans. He promised that national industrial development would give greater access to the products they demanded. This meant the different social classes all benefitted from the industrial revolution. Camacho and his administration's relationship with U.S. was a crucial reason for this success and additionally the prosperous starting point of the industrialization.
External relations
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Mexico had through World War II created a close and beneficial relationship with U.S.
U.S. created Office of Inter-American Affairs (OIAA) in 1940 to understand Latin America better and explore U.S. business opportunities as a result of decreased wartime trade with Europe. Mexico could offer U.S. the cheap labour, natural resources, and goods while the money from U.S. gave Mexico economic growth and contributed to Mexico’s industrialization.
As Mexico industrialized, the shortage of machinery, supplies, and spare parts began to show in 1945 (Rankin). This possible stop in Mexico’s industrial chain would also affect U.S. Therefore, U.S. and Mexico’s governments established a joint program to remedy the situation (MACEC). This example shows the relationship that was established between U.S. and Mexico during the wartime.
U.S. created Office of Inter-American Affairs (OIAA) in 1940 to understand Latin America better and explore U.S. business opportunities as a result of decreased wartime trade with Europe. Mexico could offer U.S. the cheap labour, natural resources, and goods while the money from U.S. gave Mexico economic growth and contributed to Mexico’s industrialization.
As Mexico industrialized, the shortage of machinery, supplies, and spare parts began to show in 1945 (Rankin). This possible stop in Mexico’s industrial chain would also affect U.S. Therefore, U.S. and Mexico’s governments established a joint program to remedy the situation (MACEC). This example shows the relationship that was established between U.S. and Mexico during the wartime.
These internal and external political developments mentioned above specific relate to and influence the industrialization in Mexico.
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Central political leaders
Among the presidents leading Mexico in this period, some stand out having special impacted on the development of the country's industrialization. Below are the important presidents and the laws and policies implemented in their term.
Manuel Ávila Camacho (1940-1946)
Miguel Alemán Valdés (1946-1952)
José López Portillo (1976-1982)
Manuel Ávila Camacho (1940-1946)
- Law of Manufacturing Industries 1941(Story [85]), which was central to the import-substitution policies.
- Electoral Law in 1946
- Strongly committed to giving primary education to the general population.
- The money gained from Mexico and U.S. alliance under World War Two (WWII), Camacho spend on paying off foreign debt, so Mexico’s credit rating substantially improved, creating increasing investors’ confidence in the government. Which led to companies like Cola-Cola to invest in Mexico by establishing branches. Which further led to jobs opportunities and the with the growing middle-class consumer culture Mexico expanded to meet the population demands.
Miguel Alemán Valdés (1946-1952)
- Part of the conservative wing of the RPI. He pursued pro-business industrialization policies while ignoring the agricultural situation.
- Law for Development of new and necessary industries 1946.
- He used the money Mexico had earned via WW2 to improve on infrastructure and energy.
José López Portillo (1976-1982)
- Another major electoral reform in 1977. The reform allowed 100 additional seats to the Chamber of Deputies. As a result of the reform, the PRI’s control of the Chamber of Deputies decreased.
- Several catastrophically economical policies, leading to Mexico’s worst crisis in 40 years.
Profile: President Manuel Ávila Camacho
Lastly, to fully assess the significance of the political development, one has to look at the content; what were the contributions from and relations between political, economics and social factors regarding The Mexican Industrial Revolution.
The creation of the PRI party and government can be seen as a masterpiece in combining the social and political forces to create a stable political environment for industrial and economic development. All social classes benefitted from the industrialization.
So the political, economic and social factors were intertwined in the industrial development. There is little doubt, that the policies described above had a crucial effect on the social and economic development in Mexico in these years.
The creation of the PRI party and government can be seen as a masterpiece in combining the social and political forces to create a stable political environment for industrial and economic development. All social classes benefitted from the industrialization.
So the political, economic and social factors were intertwined in the industrial development. There is little doubt, that the policies described above had a crucial effect on the social and economic development in Mexico in these years.
Conclusion
From 1940 to 1982 Mexico experienced political stability and strong economic growth while industrializing. Politically the electoral law in 1946 and the composition of the ruling party (PRI) created a stable political environment for three decades with very little social and political unrest paving the way for stable industrialization. Secondly, two specific policies - export promotion and import-substitution - propelled the way for Mexico’s industrialization. Thirdly, the unique relationship with U.S. at the beginning of the Mexican Industrial Revolution had an impact on a solid economical starting point for the political and industrial development. Based on the research presented, it is safe to conclude that political developments and policies were to a great extent significant to The Mexican Industrial Revolution.
MLA citations
Clark, Charles S., et al. "Mexico's Future." CQ Researcher 7.35 (1997): 817-40. Print.
Cline, Howard. Mexico: Revolution to Evolution, 1940-1960. N.p.: Oxford University, 1962. Print
Collier, David. "Industrial Modernization and Political Change: A Latin American Perspective." World Politics. Spec. issue of JSTOR 30.4
(1978): 593-614. Berkeley Political Science. Web. 9 May 2016.
<http://polisci.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/people/u3827/industrialModernization.pdf>.
"Gen. Manuel Ávila Camacho Facts." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2010. Biography Your Dictionary. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://biography.yourdictionary.com/gen-manuel-avila-camacho>.
Glade, William. "Mexico Part-Led Development." 1984. Politics, Policies, & Economic Development in Latin America. Ed. Robert Wesson.
California: Hoover Institution Press, 1984. 94-120. Digital file.
.
Miró, Ramón, ed. "Growth and Structure of the Economy." Countrystudies. N.p.,
1996. Web. 15 May 2016. <http://countrystudies.us/mexico/65.htm>.
Mosk, Sanford A. Industrial Revolution in Mexico. 1950. California: University of California Press, 1950. Print.
Rankin, Monica A. Propaganda and Production during the World War II. N.p.: University of Nebraska, 2009. Print.
Ros, Jaime. Mexico's trade and industrialization experience since 1960: A reconsideration of past policies and assessment of current reforms.
Research rept. no. 186. N.p.: Kellogg Institute, 1993. Print.
Story, Dale. Industry, the State, and Public Policy in Mexico. Texas: University of Texas Press, 2014. Print.
United States. Congressional Research Service. Mexico’s Political History: From Revolution to Alternation, 1910-2006. Rept. RS22368.
Washington: GPO, 2006. Homeland Security Digital Library. Web. 13 May 2016. <https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=459875>.
Cline, Howard. Mexico: Revolution to Evolution, 1940-1960. N.p.: Oxford University, 1962. Print
Collier, David. "Industrial Modernization and Political Change: A Latin American Perspective." World Politics. Spec. issue of JSTOR 30.4
(1978): 593-614. Berkeley Political Science. Web. 9 May 2016.
<http://polisci.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/people/u3827/industrialModernization.pdf>.
"Gen. Manuel Ávila Camacho Facts." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2010. Biography Your Dictionary. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://biography.yourdictionary.com/gen-manuel-avila-camacho>.
Glade, William. "Mexico Part-Led Development." 1984. Politics, Policies, & Economic Development in Latin America. Ed. Robert Wesson.
California: Hoover Institution Press, 1984. 94-120. Digital file.
.
Miró, Ramón, ed. "Growth and Structure of the Economy." Countrystudies. N.p.,
1996. Web. 15 May 2016. <http://countrystudies.us/mexico/65.htm>.
Mosk, Sanford A. Industrial Revolution in Mexico. 1950. California: University of California Press, 1950. Print.
Rankin, Monica A. Propaganda and Production during the World War II. N.p.: University of Nebraska, 2009. Print.
Ros, Jaime. Mexico's trade and industrialization experience since 1960: A reconsideration of past policies and assessment of current reforms.
Research rept. no. 186. N.p.: Kellogg Institute, 1993. Print.
Story, Dale. Industry, the State, and Public Policy in Mexico. Texas: University of Texas Press, 2014. Print.
United States. Congressional Research Service. Mexico’s Political History: From Revolution to Alternation, 1910-2006. Rept. RS22368.
Washington: GPO, 2006. Homeland Security Digital Library. Web. 13 May 2016. <https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=459875>.