The Foreign Affairs Interview

Populism’s Grip on Mexico

Jun 13, 2024

Denise Dresser, a political analyst in Mexico, warns about the threats to democracy in Mexico as Claudia Sheinbaum's win could lead to either democracy or autocracy. They discuss corruption, mishandling of the pandemic, challenges in governance, international relations, and the potential governance style of the new president.

36:07

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Episode guests

Denise Dresser

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Quick takeaways

Mexico's democracy faces threats from polarization and erosion of institutions under current governance.

Transition of power in Mexico highlighted by discontent over inequality, corruption, and desire for change.

Deep dives

Claudia Shambam's Landslide Victory

Claudia Shambam won Mexico's presidential election by a staggering margin, garnering more than 30% above the opposition. Her party, Morena, secured a supermajority in Congress, marking a significant political triumph. The victory was attributed to several factors, including past government actions, a popular president, and a populist narrative of people versus elites. The substantial win signaled a shift in power and potential consequences beyond surface-level attributions like gender or religion.

Intro

2min

Political Landscape of Mexico: Shaping Elections and Governance

11min

Analyzing Power Dynamics and Pandemic Response in Mexico

4min

Challenges and Complexities in Mexican Governance and International Relations

15min

Analysis of Potential Governance Style in Mexico

3min

Earlier this month, Claudia Sheinbaum won a sweeping victory in Mexico’s presidential election. Although a lot of the coverage framed the results as a win for women and progressive politics, the story is far more complicated.

Mexico’s democracy is in trouble, warns Denise Dresser, a political analyst in Mexico. For years, Dresser has watched Sheinbaum’s party—and its previous leader, Andrés Manuel López Obrador—govern through polarization and the erosion of democratic institutions, even as the country struggles with violence, corruption, and persistent inequality. Dresser is a professor of political science at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico.

There is a chance Sheinbaum charts a different course. But if not, Dresser worries that Mexico could face an autocratic future.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of The Foreign Affairs Interview at https://www.foreignaffairs.com/podcasts/foreign-affairs-interview.

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The Foreign Affairs Interview

Populism’s Grip on Mexico

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Claudia Shambam's Landslide Victory

Challenges in Mexico's Democratic Transition

Security and Foreign Relations Under Lopez Obrador

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts