Nongovernmental Organizations and the Changing Structure of Mexican Politics: The Cases of Environmental and Human Rights Policy Fernanda Somuano

In 2000, there were twice as many Mexican nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as in 1994 because of the decline in importance of the traditional influence of labor unions and peasant and business groups as Mexico diversified. Mexican participation in nongovernmental groups other than political parties increased from 4.6 percent of adults in 1990 to 6.1 percent in 2000. Their participation in organizations for the environment, Third World issues, and human rights grew more rapidly than in other groups, while participation in political parties fell. Participation in cultural groups was strongest by the young, and that in church groups was strongest by the old.