Many Mexicans accept that life is not fair. A family guy, who lives from hand to mouth, does not care about changing the power structure. He rather thinks: “what do I win by fighting? what would give me the sacrifice? I earn money so that my daughter can go to school, and to buy one kilogram of tortillas.” He cannot take a chance. My original question was how Mexicans can tolerate an oligarchy. The answer is we do not want to have conflicts. We rather evade conflicts in exchange of accepting that life is not fair, that we live in a society with enormous moral and political problems such as discrimination and corruption. The brave Mexicans who try to rebel, get killed.
In this paper, I deal with recent research about inequality and power. By inequality, I understand that individuals do not have the same opportunities. People are treated badly for all kinds of unfair things: skin color, intellect, finance, ideals, gender, and everything else that makes who they are. To define power is very difficult. Power is a necessary means for the fulfillment of any goal. The more goals you set, the more power you need. Plato’s conception is different. In his dialogue, Gorgias, Socrates believes that the tyrants have little power. According to Socrates, someone possesses power if and only if he or she does the good because we do things for the sake of the good. Accordingly, if someone does not do the good, then he or she is powerless.
The aim of my work is to extend current knowledge of the power structure of Mexico. If we want to transform our society, we need to understand how it works. Inequality and power are the important issues that need to be studied in order to improve the standard of living of the population.
This paper is divided into three parts. The first part gives a brief overview of different approaches explicating inequality and power. Second part describes the case of Mexico. Third part analyzes the relation between the different approaches and the case of Mexico. The first part has eight sections that match with the eight sections of Part III. So Section 2.1 matches with Section 4.1, 2.2 with 4.2, 2.3 with 4.3, and so on, respectively.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Approaches Explicating Power And Inequality
2.1 The Social Psychology of Power
2.2 Emergence of Power Structures
2.2.1 Egalitarian Behavior
2.3 The Stability of Democracy
2.4 Transformation of the Western State
2.5 Globalization and Inequality
2.6 Inequality And Institutions
2.7 The Great Leveler
2.8 Welfare State
3 The Case of Mexico
3.1 Peculiarities of Mexican History
3.2 Violence in Mexico
3.3 Complexity of Mexico’s Anthropology
3.4 Power Structure of Modern Mexico
3.5 Mexico as a Semi-periphery Country
4 Do the Previous Approaches Relate to the Case of Mexico?
4.1 Pursuit of Power
4.2 Egalitarian Indigenous Communities As the Lower Stratum
4.3 Democracy in Mexico
4.4 Incoherent Autocracy
4.5 Higher or Lower Inequality?
4.6 Mexican Institutions
4.7 Is There Any Hope?
4.8 What Can Be Done?
5 Summary
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper aims to extend the current understanding of the power structure in Mexico by analyzing the interplay between inequality and power. By applying diverse scientific theories from fields such as sociology, political science, and anthropology to the historical and contemporary Mexican context, the work investigates why the country remains an incoherent autocracy and explores potential pathways toward a more equitable and democratic society.
- Analysis of power dynamics and inequality within the Mexican political system.
- Evaluation of the relationship between economic stability and democratic development.
- Examination of the impact of historical legacy and internal colonialism on current social structures.
- Assessment of the role of institutions, education, and globalization in shaping wealth distribution.
- Exploration of non-violent strategies to reduce systemic inequality and corruption.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Violence in Mexico
Mexico has a rich history of conflicts and violence; not only the conquest, the independence, the two invasions, and the revolution but also a lot of agrarian conflicts and strikes. The Mexican Revolution was successful because the oppressors were challenged, nevertheless, peasants continued to struggle for their rights. One of the causes of the many peasant revolts was that political violence has been used for certain political goals as the acquisition and retention of power. The Mexican state has had a repressive political character for decades. For example, the Tlaltelolco massacres, where the government killed and injured hundreds of students. The violence of the armed movements, such as the revolution, served to win the war and retain power. The Mexican political system allows and even encourages political violence. To quote from Knight some of it class-inflected, some of it the product of the Hobbesian struggle for power.
During President Calderón’s six years of presidency, the military began to intervene fighting the drug cartels, what is known as the Mexican Drug War. The propaganda was to reduce the drug-related violence. Therefore extensive military deployments were used. This was not successful and only extended violence which has turned into one of Mexico’s biggest problems. Victims are tortured and killed in a barbaric way.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the research motivation, defining key concepts like inequality and power, and outlining the study's three-part structure.
2 Approaches Explicating Power And Inequality: Presents various theoretical frameworks from social psychology, anthropology, economics, and political science to explain mechanisms of power and wealth distribution.
3 The Case of Mexico: Details the historical, anthropological, and structural factors that define the current situation of Mexico, including its status as a semi-periphery country.
4 Do the Previous Approaches Relate to the Case of Mexico?: Applies the previously introduced theoretical models to the specific Mexican context to identify links between political structure, inequality, and institutional challenges.
5 Summary: Concludes the analysis by synthesizing the findings, highlighting the persistence of inequality, and suggesting potential improvements through education and institutional reform.
Keywords
Mexico, Power Structure, Inequality, Incoherent Autocracy, Internal Colonialism, Democracy, Corruption, Globalization, Political Institutions, Welfare State, Indigenous Communities, Social Stratification, Economic Development, Violence, Education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the complex relationship between power structures and systemic inequality in Mexico, investigating why the country struggles to achieve a stable democracy and equitable distribution of resources.
What are the primary themes explored?
The study centers on political science and sociology, specifically focusing on the causes of corruption, the legacy of historical conflict, the role of indigenous communities, and the impact of economic policies on the Mexican populace.
What is the main research question?
The work seeks to understand how Mexicans tolerate an oligarchy and explores how existing theories on inequality and power can explain the specific socio-political challenges faced by the country today.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs a qualitative interdisciplinary approach, utilizing hypotheses from social psychology, political science, history, and anthropology to contextualize the current reality of Mexico.
What is addressed in the main body?
The main body is divided into a theoretical overview of power and inequality followed by a detailed examination of Mexico's history, institutions, and the socio-economic impact of its power structure.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Inequality, Mexico, Power Structure, Incoherent Autocracy, Internal Colonialism, Democracy, and Welfare State.
How does the author define the "Four Horsemen" in the context of Mexico?
Referencing Walter Scheidel, the author identifies mass mobilization warfare, transformative revolutions, state failure, and lethal pandemics as violent mechanisms that historically level disparities in wealth, and assesses whether Mexico has experienced these.
What is the author's stance on the potential for change in Mexico?
The author argues that while change is difficult due to entrenched interests and systemic corruption, there is hope through non-violent means, specifically emphasizing the crucial role of education and institutional reform.
What significance is attributed to the concept of "internal colonialism"?
It is used to describe the ongoing exploitation and marginalization of indigenous ethnic groups within Mexico, highlighting the persistence of colonial social structures even after the revolution.
- Quote paper
- Valery Berthoud (Author), 2017, Inequality and Power in the Ground of the Mexican Republic, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/450140
