Questions/Topics for discussion: Mexico and Nigeria Seminar How has corruption played a part in society?

Corruption hindering democracy? Why? Mexico - Camarilla: patron-client relationships - Elaborate spoils system that affects the political sphere and the economic sphere as well - e.g. Petroleum Company PEMEX accepted kickbacks from suppliers; demanded a share of workers salaries as a condition of employment - Extends down from the party elite vote-mobilizing organizations all around the country: has bribed, coerced, etc. citizens into voting a certain way - Electoral fraud: became a serious issue in 1988 when the PRI stole the election (pork barrel poiitics) - Dominant President that appoints higher up officials/legislature semi-authoritarian! (against democratic nature) appoints successor (up till 1999 election) - Drug cartels threats have bound the police force (deal-making) posed threat to civilian livelihood - Corporatist corruption versus individualism: the overruling of elite > individual rights (votes, right to stable) Nigeria - Pre-bendalism: also patron-client relationship - Electoral ballot illegitimacy: ballot stuffing, ballot miscounting, calling for re-votes violence/military take over - Public administration of petroleum and natural gas resources (heavily abundant in Nigeria! Especially the South, Igbo) WORSE living conditions of the average human being - Corruption squandering of well earned profit by the elite (the always right) - Comes in many forms: scams run by Nigerian businessmen seeking investment; under military rule, government encouraged foreign investment personal interests of the elite - Government-involved; even under the ruling family at the time (for example, the Abacha family) Nigerian people remain in poverty - Is not seen as a legitimate, trustworthy state in which foreign companies may invest (thus hindering the Nigerian economy once again) - Personalization of power

Political culture shaped the political system? More conducive to democracy? Mexico Nigeria - Real sense of national identity - The Political Culture in Nigeria is among most Mexicans one of cynicism and skepticism o Common language, mass - 68% of the people still think that culture, and history from democracy is the best form of which only few nongovernment Spanish speaking Indians - However, the fragmented nature are excluded of Nigeria itself is not conducive But they share a to consensual political parties common religion: a and thus, democracy

powerful unifying force that bridges all subcultures - National identity: rests on the blending of Spanish + Aztec cultures (16th c.) both had corruption + authoritarianism part of the Mexican political landscape - Most Mexicans believe that the regime is legitimate: in particular the revolution of 1910-17 The political culture is conducive to a more semi-authoritarian government moreso than a true democracy People are accustomed to a more head honcho figure (machismo) and expect the executive figure to hold disproportionate power

High stakes democracy: minorities feel that if they were to be ousted from the government, they would not be shut out from influence forever The people expect corruption illegitimate democracy, essentially! Elite culture: category of political and bureaucratic officials who have used their positions for personal gain and have been able to protect their wealth and power under civilian and military rule Willing to violate the rules of the democratic game and overstepped normal bounds of authority subvert the democratic process Cynicism: found in growing cities (highly politicized people who question and challenge the government, and who want to take a stand); also peasants who are convinced that politicians are by nature dishonest Rural and Urban

Globalization? Economy? Structural Adjustment? Issue that the countries have AIDS, Poverty, corruption, Immigration, US dominating policy? Mexico Nigeria - Corruption (as stated in the first - Corruption (prebendalism; stated box) in the first topic of discussion) - Poverty - Poverty - Immigration - AIDS Became a serious issue after World War II (U.S. actually encouraged Mexican immigration during World War II) 1986 passed the Immigration reform and Control Act which created an amnesty program Huge black market in counterfeit and stolen green cards fears of the cost of providing them

welfare, education, etc; taking the jobs from the Americans The U.S.s policy agenda is dependent upon U.S. decision-making (for example, when they need people, they loosen up immigration policy inconsistant standard!) - US dominating policy unbalanced power of U.S.-Mexican erlations - Drugs Trafficking, cartels that have taken over the police force (even!) Cleavages? Whose are worse for their country Mexico Nigeria - Class cleavages - Ethnic cleavages (different tribes Elite become richer; poor remain at that identify with each of their own the bottom regions) - Natives and the later - Religious cleavages (Muslim, immigrated/later generation Christian) that also go along the Mexicans borders of ethnic divide - Geographic Cleavage separated by geographic/state boundaries enhances the ethnic/religious cleavages - Rural versus Urban traditional structures and values of tribal religion and tradition remain strong (chieftains, patron-client relations) democracy is at odds with the rural belief system **Any topics you bring up that you want to discuss. Bonus points for this for sure! How has structural adjustment helped democratize Nigeria and Mexico? Mexico: *Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI): employs high tariffs (import taxes) to protect produced goods from foreign competition, government ownership of key industries & government subsidies to domestic industries government investment in industry is financed by taxing the export market implemented following Great Depression of 1930s industrialization seemed to be the only way for poor countries to improve their economies, since so little capital in private hands to finance it

*Nationalization of key industries: Nationalized the oil industry and all subsoil rights Owned banks, airlines, railroads, telecommunications Provided subsidized housing, health care, and food to urban workers in order to keep the price of labor down for domestic industries Borrowed heavily to finance the development, which mounted in a large foreign debt *Neoliberalism (starting from 1994): contracts sharply with Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI) calls for: free markets, balanced budgets, privatization, free trade, and minimal government intervention in the economy most of the state-owned industries were privatized food and housing subsidies for the poor abolished protective tariffs abandoned in favor of free trade North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): end of state-led development Nigeria: - Import substitution - Recipient of foreign aid/loans either on its own or through partially private, partially public organizations known as parastatals