Caciquismo in Twentieth-Century Mexico

Caciquismo (roughly translated as "boss politics") has played a major role in Mexican political and social life. Loosely knit interest groups, or "caciques," of diverse character --syndicates, farmers, left- and right-wingers, white-collar workers --have exercised great power within Mexico's distinctive political system. The peculiarities of Mexico's system have greatly depended on this kind of informal politics, which combines repression, patronage, and charismatic leadership. As such, caciquismo fits uncomfortably within the formal analysis of laws, parties, and elections and has been relatively neglected by academics. Though its demise has often been predicted, it has survived, evolved, and adjusted to Mexico's rapid post-revolutionary transformation. Incorporating the research of historians, political scientists, sociologists, and anthropologists, this book reevaluates the crucial role of the cacique in modern Mexico. It suggests that caciquismo has survived decades of change and upheaval and remains an important, if underestimated, feature of recent Mexican politics. Contributors include Christopher Boyer (University of Illinois at Chicago), Keith Brewster (University of Newcastle upon Tyne), Matthew Butler (Queen's University, Belfast), Marco Calder?n (El Colegio de Michoac?n, Mexico), Maria Teresa Fern?ndez Aceves (Centro de Investigaciones en Estudios Superiores en Antropolog?a Social [CIESAS], Mexico), Rogelio Hern?ndez Rodr?uez (El Colegio de M?xico), Stephen Lewis (California State University, Chico), Salvador Maldonado Aranda (El Colegio de Michoac?n, Mexico), Jennie Purnell (Boston College), Jan Rus (Tzotzil Instituto de Asesor?a Antropol?gica para la Regi?n Maya, and Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, University of California, San Diego), Pieter de Vries (Wageningen University), and J. Eduardo Z?rate H (El Colegio de M?xico, Michoac?n).