A Country Study: Mexico

• Mexico
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Table A. Chronology of Important Events
• Country Profile - Visit new updated Profile (PDF)
  • Country
  • Geography
  • Society
  • Economy
  • Transportation and Telecommunications
  • Government and Politics
  • National Security
• Introduction

• Chapter 1 - Historical Setting (Richard Haggerty)
  • Preconquest Mexico
    • Ancient Mexico
    • The Aztec
  • The Spanish Conquest
  • New Spain
    • Encomiendas
    • Colonial Administration
    • Socioeconomic Structures
  • The Road to Independence
    • The Bourbon Reforms
    • Early Discontent: Criollos and Clergy
  • Wars of Independence, 1810-21
    • Hidalgo and Morelos
    • Iturbide and the Plan of Iguala
  • Empire and Early Republic, 1821-55
    • The Abortive Empire, 1821-23
    • The Federalist Republic, 1824-36
    • Centralism and the Caudillo State, 1836-55
      • The Constitution of 1836
      • The Loss of Texas
      • The Mexican-American War
      • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
  • Reform and French Intervention, 1855-67
    • The Revolution of Ayutla and the Reform Laws
    • Civil War and the French Intervention
  • The Restoration, 1867-76
  • The Porfiriato, 1876-1910
    • Porfirian Modernization
    • Society under the Porfiriato
  • The Revolution, 1910-20
    • The Early Phase
    • Madero's Government
    • The Huerta Dictatorship
    • The Constitution of 1917
    • Carranza's Presidency
  • The Constructive Phase, 1920-40
    • The Obregón Presidency, 1920-24
    • The Calles Presidency, 1924-28
    • The Maximato
    • Cardenismo and the Revolution Rekindled, 1934-40
  • From Revolution to Governance, 1940-82
    • Ávila Camacho's Wartime Presidency, 1940-46
    • The Alemán Sexenio, 1946-52
    • The Ruiz Cortines Sexenio, 1952-58
    • López Mateos and the Return to Revolutionary Policies, 1958-64
    • Authoritarianism Unveiled, 1964-70
    • Reconciliation and Redistribution, 1970-76
    • Recovery and Relapse, 1976-82
  • "The Crisis" Begins, 1982
  • To the Brink and Back, 1982-88
    • The de la Madrid Sexenio, 1982-88
    • The United States and the Crisis in Mexico
    • Economic Hardship
  • Carlos Salinas de Gortari: Economic Liberalization, Political Indecision
    • The Passing of the Torch, 1987-88
    • President Salinas

• Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment (Dennis M. Hanratty)
  • Physical Setting
    • Topography and Drainage
    • Seismic Activity
    • Climate
    • Environmental Conditions
  • Population
  • Ethnicity and Language
  • Income Distribution
  • Structure of Society
    • Social Indicators
    • Social Spending
    • Urban Society
    • Rural Society
    • Interpersonal Relations
    • Role of Women
  • Religion
    • Church-State Relations
    • Popular Beliefs
  • Education
  • Health Care and Social Security
    • Mortality Patterns
    • Morbidity Patterns
    • Social Security

• Chapter 3 - The Economy (Timothy Goodman)
  • Growth and Structure of the Economy
    • Early Years
    • Revolution and Aftermath
    • The Great Depression
    • Postwar Economic Growth
    • Deterioration in the 1970s
    • 1982 Crisis and Recovery
  • Macroeconomic Management
    • External Debt
    • Inflation
    • Privatization
  • Labor Force
    • Labor Legislation
    • Labor Unions
  • Financial System
    • Banking System
    • Stock Exchange
    • Exchange Rate
  • Agriculture
    • Land Tenure
    • Government Agricultural Policy
    • Grain Production
    • Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
    • Other Crops
    • Livestock
    • Forestry
    • Fishing
  • Industry
    • Manufacturing
    • Construction
  • Energy and Mining
    • Petroleum
    • Electricity
    • Nonfuel Mining
  • Transportation and Telecommunications
    • Roads
    • Railroads
    • Rapid Transit
    • Ports and Shipping
    • Air Transportation
    • Telecommunications
    • Radio
    • Television
  • Tourism
  • Foreign Trade
    • Imports
    • Exports
    • Composition of Exports
    • Trade Balance
    • Direction of Trade
    • Trade Agreements
  • Balance of Payments
    • Current Account
    • Capital Account
    • Foreign Investment Regulation
  • The Future of the Economy

• Chapter 4 - Government and Politics (Marisabel Brás)
  • Constitutional History
    • Nineteenth-Century Constitutions
    • Constitution of 1917
  • Government Structure
    • Executive
    • Legislative
    • Judicial
    • State Government
    • Local Government
  • The Party System
    • Institutional Revolutionary Party
    • National Action Party
    • Democratic Revolutionary Party
    • Minor Opposition Parties
  • Institutions of Civil Society
    • Organized Labor
    • Business Organizations
    • The Church
    • The Media
  • The Electoral Process and Political Dynamics
    • The Electoral Process
    • The 1988 Elections
    • The Salinas Presidency: Reform and Retrenchment
  • Foreign Relations
    • Relations with the United States
    • Relations with Cuba
    • Relations with Guatemala
    • Relations with Other Latin American Countries
    • Membership in International Organizations
  • Prospects for the Future

• Chapter 5 - National Security (Jean R. Tartter)
  • History and Traditions of the Armed Forces
    • The Wars of Independence, 1810-21
    • War with the United States, 1846
    • The Military Phase of the Revolution, 1910-17
    • Professionalization of the Armed Forces, 1920-46
    • The Mexican Military in World War II
    • The Military in Civilian Politics
  • National Security Concerns
    • Tasks and Missions
    • United States Concerns
    • Treaty Obligations
  • Armed Forces
    • Constitutional and Legal Basis
    • Organization of National Defense
    • Army
    • Air Force
    • Rural Defense Force
    • Civic Action
    • Secretariat of the Navy
  • Defense Spending
  • Domestic Defense Production
  • Personnel
    • Recruitment and Conscription
    • Education and Training
    • Pay and Benefits
    • Uniforms, Ranks, and Insignia
  • Public Order and Internal Security
    • The Chiapas Rebellion
    • Police and Law Enforcement Organizations
    • National Intelligence Agencies
    • Human Rights Concerns
    • Criminal Justice System
    • Prison Conditions
    • Narcotics Trafficking
    • Security Concerns for the 1990's and Beyond

• Appendix. Tables
• Bibliography
• Glossary