This paper applies and discusses the merits and demerits of two different measures of democracy, the Freedom House Index and Przeworski’s regime classification, that is, the updated version by Cheibub et al. (2010), with regard to Mexico between 1972 and 2010.
First, I explain the nature and functionality of the two measures, and then I look at the development of democracy in Mexico and its evaluation by Przeworski and Freedom House, pointing out similarities and differences and their causes. Finally I conclude which of the two measures seems to be more appropriate for the specific case of Mexico and why.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Freedom House vs. Przeworski
- Democracy in Mexico
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to compare and contrast two different measures of democracy – the Freedom House Index and Przeworski's regime classification – as applied to Mexico from 1972 to 2010. It analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each measure and assesses their appropriateness in evaluating Mexico's democratic development.
- Comparative analysis of the Freedom House Index and Przeworski's regime classification.
- Evaluation of Mexico's democratic development from 1972 to 2010.
- Examination of the similarities and differences in the two measures' assessments of Mexico.
- Discussion of the factors contributing to the similarities and differences.
- Assessment of which measure is more appropriate for evaluating democracy in Mexico.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This paper compares the Freedom House Index and Przeworski's regime classification in measuring democracy in Mexico (1972-2010). It outlines the methodology of each measure and previews the analysis of their application to Mexico, highlighting the similarities, differences, and underlying causes.
Freedom House vs. Przeworski: This section details the methodologies of both the Freedom House Index and Przeworski's regime classification. Freedom House uses a continuous scale (1-7) for political rights and civil liberties, categorizing countries as 'free,' 'partly free,' or 'not free.' It also employs a dichotomous measure for electoral democracy based on specific criteria. Przeworski's method is dichotomous (democracy/dictatorship), relying on four criteria: elected executive and legislature, multiple parties, and alternation in government. The differences in approach and criteria are clearly explained, laying the groundwork for the comparative analysis in later sections.
Democracy in Mexico: This chapter examines Mexico's democratic development from 1972 to 2010, analyzing its evolution through the lens of both the Freedom House Index and Przeworski's classification. It details Mexico's history, highlighting the long period of PRI rule and its authoritarian practices. The chapter meticulously traces how both measures classified Mexico during this period, noting that Przeworski categorized Mexico as a dictatorship primarily due to the lack of alternation in government. Freedom House, while rating Mexico as 'partly free,' also did not classify it as an electoral democracy until 2000. The subsequent electoral reforms, the 2000 election, and the resulting changes in classification are analyzed, showing the impact of political events on the measures. The chapter further examines the impact of increasing violence, particularly after 2006, on Freedom House's assessment of Mexico's freedom status, while acknowledging that this violence didn't change the democratic status according to either measure. The analysis underscores the nuanced differences between measuring democracy and evaluating the level of freedom within a democratic system. The chapter concludes by highlighting the overall agreement between the two measures regarding Mexico's democratic status, while also noting important discrepancies in how they evaluate the level of freedom, even within a democratic context. This difference stems from the differing criteria and focus on various aspects of a functioning democratic society.
Keywords
Mexican democracy, Freedom House Index, Przeworski's regime classification, electoral democracy, political rights, civil liberties, authoritarianism, Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), alternation in government, electoral reforms, violence, political freedom.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Mexican Democracy (1972-2010) Using Freedom House and Przeworski's Methodologies
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper compares and contrasts two different methods for measuring democracy – the Freedom House Index and Przeworski's regime classification – as applied to Mexico from 1972 to 2010. It analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each measure and assesses their appropriateness in evaluating Mexico's democratic development during this period.
Which methodologies are compared?
The paper compares the Freedom House Index, which uses a continuous scale (1-7) for political rights and civil liberties and a dichotomous measure for electoral democracy, and Przeworski's regime classification, a dichotomous (democracy/dictatorship) method based on four criteria: elected executive and legislature, multiple parties, and alternation in government.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include a comparative analysis of the two methodologies, an evaluation of Mexico's democratic development from 1972-2010, an examination of the similarities and differences in the measures' assessments of Mexico, a discussion of the factors contributing to these similarities and differences, and an assessment of which measure is more appropriate for evaluating democracy in Mexico.
How does the paper summarize Mexico's democratic development?
The paper traces Mexico's democratic development from 1972 to 2010, highlighting the long period of PRI rule and its authoritarian practices. It analyzes how both measures classified Mexico during this period, noting discrepancies and highlighting the impact of electoral reforms and the 2000 election on these classifications. The impact of increasing violence after 2006 on Freedom House's assessment is also discussed.
What are the key differences between the Freedom House Index and Przeworski's classification?
The Freedom House Index provides a more nuanced assessment, considering both political rights and civil liberties on a continuous scale, and also offering a separate classification for electoral democracy. Przeworski's method is simpler, focusing on a dichotomous classification (democracy/dictatorship) based on a limited set of criteria. These differences lead to variations in how they assess Mexico's democratic status and the level of freedom within the country.
What are the main conclusions of the paper?
While both measures generally agree on Mexico's overall democratic status over time, they show important discrepancies in evaluating the level of freedom, even within a democratic context. These differences highlight the complexities of measuring democracy and the importance of considering various aspects of a functioning democratic society when using different methodologies.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Mexican democracy, Freedom House Index, Przeworski's regime classification, electoral democracy, political rights, civil liberties, authoritarianism, Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), alternation in government, electoral reforms, violence, political freedom.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Inga Nehlsen (Autor:in), 2011, Measuring Democracy in Mexico. Merits and Demerits of the Freedom House Index and Przeworski’s Regime Classification, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/305742
