Mexican Politics – PSCI 3205
Fall 2023
Tuesdays 11.35-14.25
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This course provides an introduction to contemporary Mexican politics. We will examine the evolution of the country’s political institutions, as well as the transformation of the country’s economy and how these changes affect the lives of ordinary Mexicans. We will also focus on how Mexico interacts with the international system (particularly the influence of the United States). We will cover such issues as historical development, market reforms, the operations of the traditional authoritarian system and how it has been democratised, the development of the party system, indigenous and women’s rights, migration, and Mexico’s long-lasting drug war. While the course focuses on one country, the issues we discuss are of relevance to students interested in other regions, particularly in the Global South.
Previous knowledge of Mexican politics is not required.
Laura Macdonald is a Professor in the Department of Political Science and the Institute of Political Economy at Carleton University. She has published numerous articles in journals and edited collections on such issues as the role of non-governmental organizations in development, global civil society, citizenship struggles in Latin America, Mexican politics, theories of regionalism, Canadian development assistance, the political impact of North American integration and the rights of temporary foreign workers in Canada. She has edited six books and is author or co-author of two books. She currently has a grant from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to study transnational activism in North America, with a special focus on labour rights, migrant rights, and human rights in Mexico. Other recent work looks at Canada’s role in Latin America, policies to reduce crime and violence in Mexico City, and gender and trade. view bio