Mexico

An ethnically diverse country, Mexico’s population consists predominantly of Mexican Mestizo, who have both Indigenous and European descent; Indigenous Amerindians are the second largest community; and the rest of its population are Mexicans of European descent (“whites”). The Afro-descendant population, recently recognized in specific laws, has a notorious cultural presence in the country with 1.2 per cent of the population. Economic reforms introduced in the 1980s and 1990s generated some growth and improved income distribution. However, the benefits of economic and social modernization have been unevenly shared across racial lines, and biases have been documented in the allocation of public resources, politics and the labour market. An urban-rural divide also characterizes the country, with more than 60 per cent of the poor population living in rural areas, most of whom are dependent upon subsistence agriculture. 

A serious downturn in domestic security has been observed in recent years as drug-related violence expands at alarming rates and in new social, political and economic areas. Security strategies to counter organized crime have also contributed to exacerbate human rights violations and  affected socio-economic development in the country. Although drug cartels have long been active in Mexico, major episodes of violence have intensified over the past two decades. Corruption has enabled organized criminal groups to operate and to seek protection in exchange for bribes. They now wield extensive influence, including in politics, and violently meddle in elections. The prevalence of poverty, corruption, growing violence, femicide and other forms of gender-based violence, and illicit networks’ increased presence in the country’s territory, local economies, and political system encompass Mexico’s chronic governance challenges.

Beginning in 1929, Mexico had 71 years of single-party government under the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Since then, Mexico’s institutions have facilitated democratic alternations of power through elections. However, fundamental divides and structural problems have eroded satisfaction with political representation, culminating in the election of populist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) in 2018. While an agenda aimed at improving the condition of marginalized Mexicans made AMLO popular, analysts, activists and opposition have expressed concern regarding actions and policy that target democratic institutions, and are viewed as efforts to erode checks on his authority. These include disparaging remarks against the media and opposition, and questioning the value and debilitating the budget of autonomous institutions including antitrust watchdog, open data portals, election oversight bodies, and regulatory agencies.

In the next five to ten years, the declining situation of human rights can negatively impact performance of GSoDI attribute of Fundamental Rights, particularly Personal Integrity and Security and Freedom of Expression. Enforced disappearances, and frequent murders of journalists and human rights activists have made Mexico the deadliest country for journalists outside a conflict zone. Legitimate and professional elections still prevail, an important critical voice exists in the media and academia, and civil society organizations oppose attempts at authoritarian regression, yet ineffective governance may continue to constrain Mexico’s ability to deliver the inclusive growth, state-building and policies required to address enduring challenges in the coming years.