S O C I E T A L C L E A V A G E S
SOCIAL:
REGIONAL
I N T R O D U C T I O N
The regional cleavage in Mexico is one of the most prevalent societal cleavages in Mexico. This cleavage is interesting because it separates Mexico into three parts: the Northern, Central, and Southern. These areas have great discrepancies in a range of areas as politics, lifestyle, wealth, and even opportunities.
Mexico is the fifth largest country in the Americas and the most populated Spanish-speaking country in the world. Mexico also has an area of almost two million square kilometers and population of over 113 million, so it is no wonder that a great disparity in the different regions cause problems for the country. Mexico is divided into thirty-two states, and each region have weather and geography specific to the respective areas it occupies in Mexico.
The northern sector of Mexico is very dry and mountainous. But however, the population in the north is more prosperous with a substantial middle class with relatively high levels of education and wealth because of their trade and connections with the United States. Thus, this is why the people in the northern region in Mexico is more supportive for a market-based economy.
On the other hand, the South is largely subtropical and is made by a large population of Amerindians. The people in southern Mexico have a lower average income compare to those in the north due to their lower educational opportunities, and most of them are skilled labors. Although their rural base may influence them to support PRI,
the Southern Mexicans are distrustful through the central government due to their poor lifestyles compare to the northern region. Since made up by a large population of Amerindians, they value the Amerindian heritage and seek more rights for natives.
Mexico is the fifth largest country in the Americas and the most populated Spanish-speaking country in the world. Mexico also has an area of almost two million square kilometers and population of over 113 million, so it is no wonder that a great disparity in the different regions cause problems for the country. Mexico is divided into thirty-two states, and each region have weather and geography specific to the respective areas it occupies in Mexico.
The northern sector of Mexico is very dry and mountainous. But however, the population in the north is more prosperous with a substantial middle class with relatively high levels of education and wealth because of their trade and connections with the United States. Thus, this is why the people in the northern region in Mexico is more supportive for a market-based economy.
On the other hand, the South is largely subtropical and is made by a large population of Amerindians. The people in southern Mexico have a lower average income compare to those in the north due to their lower educational opportunities, and most of them are skilled labors. Although their rural base may influence them to support PRI,
the Southern Mexicans are distrustful through the central government due to their poor lifestyles compare to the northern region. Since made up by a large population of Amerindians, they value the Amerindian heritage and seek more rights for natives.
H I S T O R Y
The regional cleavage of Mexico is attributed to the colonization of the Spanish during the 1600's. In the 15th century, the Spanish, in search of gold and resources, went to Mexico. They intruded upon the life of the indigenous groups, bringing their religion and sets of rules to enforce upon them. They also produced an awareness of skin color that was previously nonexistent in Mexico. They valued the lighter toned above all others, and treated the indigenous population as the low classed. After a while as the Spanish population merged with the indigenous people passing on the lighter skin to some, and skipping the others; generation after generation, this lead to the creation of the Mestizos, or those who descended from European and native Amerindians. Mestizos used to be in the middle of Colonial Mexican social class, but after the revolution in early 1900, Mestizos become the dominant group which controls most of the resources. They are now 60% of the population.
E F F E C T S O N P O L I T I C A L P A R T I C I P A T I O N
The Mestizos of Mexico hold the most amount of wealth in the country, and while the Amerindians represent 10% of the Mexican population with nearly one million people, most of them are brought up in poverty. Only fifteen of the five hundred representatives in Mexico are of indigenous descent. Only four out of fifteen of these house representatives are women. The huge gap that is created in the representatives are also reflected in the political parties. In Northern Mexico, the PAN is the primary political party. It is supported by educated groups of northerners and middle-class people. In the rural areas of the South, however, the PRI dominates as the primary political party. These discrepancies are very obvious in the voting scene, creating a great impact on the political scene of the country.
But what really is the impact of this political cleavage? The problem with regional cleavage is that any political decision made by the nation must take into consideration of both groups of people. This creates different voting blocks as different regions of the state have their own priorities, be it about oil, education, or even the most basic taxation plans.
Citizens in the north of Mexico are particularly fed up with the US's war on drugs - that lead to conflict within border cities, often involving innocent citizens. Though nearly 1.8 billion USD has been injected into Northern Mexico, most of it goes it military weapons and supplies tha
But what really is the impact of this political cleavage? The problem with regional cleavage is that any political decision made by the nation must take into consideration of both groups of people. This creates different voting blocks as different regions of the state have their own priorities, be it about oil, education, or even the most basic taxation plans.
Citizens in the north of Mexico are particularly fed up with the US's war on drugs - that lead to conflict within border cities, often involving innocent citizens. Though nearly 1.8 billion USD has been injected into Northern Mexico, most of it goes it military weapons and supplies tha
(People who live in Extreme poverty use everything they can get to build their houses. )
H E L P F U L R E S O U R C E S
http://spot.colorado.edu/~bakerab/Chapter%204%20-%20Why%20is%20Voting%20Behavior%20so%20Regionalized.pdf
http://www.untogo.org/News/Americas/Political-participation-by-indigenous-peoples-in-Latin-America-still-low
http://www.plataformademocratica.org/Publicacoes/21789.pdf
http://annemccanless.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/file/view/Political+participation+mexico.pptx
http://apcomparative.wikispaces.com/Mexicohttp://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap05_comp_govpol_mexi_42254.pdfhttp://en.
http://www.allaboutmexico.com/geography.html
http://www.truth-out.org/article/item/1192:mexicans-reject-usbacked-drug-war
http://www.untogo.org/News/Americas/Political-participation-by-indigenous-peoples-in-Latin-America-still-low
http://www.plataformademocratica.org/Publicacoes/21789.pdf
http://annemccanless.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/file/view/Political+participation+mexico.pptx
http://apcomparative.wikispaces.com/Mexicohttp://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap05_comp_govpol_mexi_42254.pdfhttp://en.
http://www.allaboutmexico.com/geography.html
http://www.truth-out.org/article/item/1192:mexicans-reject-usbacked-drug-war