ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the extent to which Mexico reconciles political stability with political freedom, political equality, and political change. It considers some of the central paradoxes of a political system that has been variously characterized as free and repressive, inclusive and elitist, continually changing and remarkably unchanging, pluralist and authoritarian. Progressively oriented, it criticized Mexico's domestic and foreign policies and continually called for increased political freedoms, broader distribution of the national wealth, greater worker participation in economic decision making, and more serious attacks on corruption. Many normative values also are frequently associated with political change. Incumbent presidents are the key figures in appointing their successors, although it is uncertain how much they consult or even negotiate with their inner circles or with interest groups. Ex-presidents are suitable as ambassadors because ambassadors merely carry out presidential policy and because they are kept outside Mexico.
