Introduction
The article discusses the transformation of Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) from a political party to a cultural politics entity. The author reflects on how deeply ingrained customs, beliefs, and cultural manifestations are in society, making it challenging to eradicate them. Unfortunately, negative practices often take root more easily than positive ones.
The Rise and Fall of PRI’s Influence
The author highlights the advent of neoliberalism within the PRI, which left its historical purpose empty. As the party distanced itself from the Mexican Revolution, its origin and reason for existence, it gradually lost its character. Moreover, the PRI abandoned its clientelist ties and abjured its own rules, such as candidacy restrictions.
The party also shifted its focus from poverty as a central political struggle to viewing it merely as statistical data. Consequently, the PRI lost sight of its primary political objective.
Lastly, the PRI lost its grassroots organization and causes. Although Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) and his party, Morena, embraced elements of Mexico’s indigenous cultures and simplified recognition of their manifestations, the PRI became a hollow shell without a genuine fight or purpose.
The Cultural Politics of Morena
Juan Villoro, a prominent Mexican writer, asserts that Morena has appropriated the PRI’s cultural politics rather than being a traditional political party. If this trend continues, the PRI will soon be an empty husk devoid of struggle, purpose, or meaning.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main topic of discussion? The transformation of Mexico’s PRI from a political party to a cultural politics entity.
- What factors contributed to the PRI’s decline? The rise of neoliberalism, distancing from the Mexican Revolution, loss of clientelist ties, and abandonment of its own rules.
- How did the PRI’s focus on poverty change? The PRI shifted from viewing poverty as a central political struggle to treating it merely as statistical data, losing sight of its primary objective.
- What has Morena adopted from the PRI? Morena has embraced elements of Mexico’s indigenous cultures and simplified recognition of their manifestations, essentially appropriating the PRI’s cultural politics.
- What is the future outlook for the PRI? If the trend continues, the PRI will become an empty husk without a genuine fight or purpose.
Author’s Background and Relevance
The author has dedicated a significant portion of their academic and intellectual life to researching and writing about the PRI’s history. In 2000, they co-authored a comprehensive investigation on the PRI’s history up to that point with Leonardo Lomelí, the current rector of UNAM. The book was promoted by Heriberto Galindo and Juan Gabriel Valencia, both of whom had recognized prestige in Mexican politics.
