Introduction
Beyond the president’s dismissals, a deeper understanding of the debate emerges through Ernesto Zedillo and Claudia Sheinbaum’s contrasting views on democracy. Their fundamental principles are irreconcilable, highlighting the depth of their disagreement.
Ernesto Zedillo’s Perspective
Zedillo views democracy as a system of life where pluralism equates to tolerance and acceptance of the adversary as a legitimate interlocutor, even if one doesn’t share the country’s vision. He sees negotiation with such adversaries as crucial to reaching political compromises.
Claudia Sheinbaum’s Perspective
Sheinbaum, however, envisions democracy as a blend of the people’s will embodied by a charismatic leader and the elimination of opposing or critical stances deemed illegitimate. This approach mirrors a Soviet-style populist democracy, with the eternal leader as its face.
Building an Illiberal Democracy
To establish this illiberal democracy, Sheinbaum’s approach required not only dismantling recently built institutions but also creating the necessary infrastructure to maintain political and electoral control. This ensured the continuity of the 4T for at least six more years.
- Control over the INE and the Electoral Tribunal secured their influence over the 2024 elections.
- Morena’s patronage system and welfare programs helped coopt society, leading to a landslide victory for the new regime.
- Opposition parties failed to recognize the extent of societal cooption, resulting in a crushing defeat.
Challenges of the New Reality
The new reality faces economic, security, and foreign policy hurdles. A fragile economy without crisis containment tools poses risks, as does excessive debt or crime-related territorial disputes among criminal groups.
The Nature of Illiberal Democracies
Illiberal democracies, like Mexico’s, attempt to mask their authoritarian nature through elections and voting, which do not reflect genuine citizen free will. The goal is to suppress liberties in pursuit of the leader’s and their followers’ desires.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the contrasting views on democracy between Zedillo and Sheinbaum? Zedillo sees it as a system of tolerance and negotiation, while Sheinbaum envisions it as a blend of popular will and the elimination of opposing views.
- How did Sheinbaum establish an illiberal democracy? By dismantling institutions, controlling electoral processes, and using welfare programs to coopt society.
- What challenges does Mexico’s illiberal democracy face? Economic instability, security threats from organized crime, and foreign policy tensions with leaders like Trump.
