Unit IV: The One-Party State: Mexico & PRI (4/1)

Corresponding text found on p226-262 of Concise History of Mexico.

Partido Nacional Revolutionario formed by Calles as way to organize influential leaders for elections
Consistent re-election of regional strongmen under PNR banner creates de facto one party state
Becomes bureaucracy that held the keys to power in Mexican politics
Entrenched bureaucratic and powerful government, supported by strong military and labor unions

Despite attempts at modernizing economy, in 1930, 69% of Mexicans still worked in agriculture
Export economy diversified enough to withstand Great Depression better than most of Latin America
1934 - Lazaro Cardenas elected President; more independent of Calles; more reform minded

Lazaro Cardenas

1937 - fully nationalized the railways
numerous agricultural reforms; expanded redistribution of haciendas to ejidos
1938 - petroleum industry nationalized (seen as nationalist move, not socialist move); 1st state to nationalize petroleum industry; formation of PEMEX

Crowds gather to support nationalization of oil industry

Internal discontent within party against Cardenas
1938 - Cardenas reorganizes PNR into 4 'sectors'; new Partido de la Revolucion Mexicana
- Organized labor
- Peasant union
- Army
- Popular sector
Reforms strengthen power on central government
Continuing struggles between state and Catholic Church; only 33 priests left in state of Michoacan by 1932
1937 - UNS, a Catholic nationalist movement formed; base of support in center-north-west states; core was made up of rural bourgeoisie and lower-middle class professionals

Union Nacional Sinarquista

UNS opposed Marxism but supported nationalization of oil industry; opposed agrarian collectivism; opposed state education reforms
Formed significant opposition to one-party rule; denounced PNR as Porfirian
Loses support due to govt reaction, including govt modification of anti-clerical positions

Demand for oil during WWII, combined with formation of PEMEX, boon to Mexican economy
Mexico moves from predominantly rural population in 1930 to 50-50 by 1960; life expectancy increased substantially and illiteracy decreased dramatically
Divided left and appeased Catholic population allow PNR candidate Manuel Avila Camacho easy Presidential victory in 1940
Reapproachment with business class

1946 - renaming of party - Partido Revolutionario Institucional (PRI); Migeul Aleman elected President
Maintains strong base of support among peasants and labor; influence held with business class elite
Growth of economic nationalism and government services
Pro-business climate so long as it remained within scope of national interest
Manufacturing sector, centered in north, still predominantly owned by foreign interest; significant portion of Mexican economy

Disillusionment with PRI leads to formation of opposition party PAN; limited success
Problems of modernization present as well; by 1960, Mexico City had population of 6 million