Vote Buying with Illegal Resources: Manifestation of a Weak Rule of Law in Mexico
Mexico’s consolidation strategy seems to be reaching a limit. The country’s transition from authoritarianism was largely based on a series of electoral reforms that leveled the playing field in elections. While this strategy was initially successful, it has failed to address several problems, es...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Politics in Latin America |
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| Online Access: | http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/jpla/article/view/942 |
| _version_ | 1818043046725419008 |
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| author | Gilles Serra |
| author_facet | Gilles Serra |
| author_sort | Gilles Serra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mexico’s consolidation strategy seems to be reaching a limit. The country’s transition from authoritarianism was largely based on a series of electoral reforms that leveled the playing field in elections. While this strategy was initially successful, it has failed to address several problems, especially in the electoral arena. This essay analyzes the prevalence of two such problems, vote buying and illegal campaign finance, which are closely connected. I draw evidence from available accounts of the 2012 presidential election and subsequent contests in problematic states such as Tabasco. The outcomes of the midterm elections of June 2015 are also used to assess whether previous electoral reforms have provided effective solutions to the problems analyzed here. I suggest that no legal reform will be effective while these laws are only being weakly enforced. A more comprehensive package of measures strengthening the rule of law would help Mexico transition from electoral democracy to liberal democracy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:55:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4c1fa72939b9465880e2aa6694b86128 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1868-4890 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:55:59Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Politics in Latin America |
| spelling | doaj.art-4c1fa72939b9465880e2aa6694b861282022-12-22T01:55:26ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Politics in Latin America1868-48902016-01-0181129150Vote Buying with Illegal Resources: Manifestation of a Weak Rule of Law in MexicoGilles Serra0Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas, CIDEMexico’s consolidation strategy seems to be reaching a limit. The country’s transition from authoritarianism was largely based on a series of electoral reforms that leveled the playing field in elections. While this strategy was initially successful, it has failed to address several problems, especially in the electoral arena. This essay analyzes the prevalence of two such problems, vote buying and illegal campaign finance, which are closely connected. I draw evidence from available accounts of the 2012 presidential election and subsequent contests in problematic states such as Tabasco. The outcomes of the midterm elections of June 2015 are also used to assess whether previous electoral reforms have provided effective solutions to the problems analyzed here. I suggest that no legal reform will be effective while these laws are only being weakly enforced. A more comprehensive package of measures strengthening the rule of law would help Mexico transition from electoral democracy to liberal democracy.http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/jpla/article/view/942Political ScienceLatin American PoliticsCampaigns and ElectionsMexican StudiesMexicoliberal democracyvote buyingcorruptioncampaign financerule of lawelections300320322324Mexico1929-2012 |
| spellingShingle | Gilles Serra Vote Buying with Illegal Resources: Manifestation of a Weak Rule of Law in Mexico Journal of Politics in Latin America Political Science Latin American Politics Campaigns and Elections Mexican Studies Mexico liberal democracy vote buying corruption campaign finance rule of law elections 300 320 322 324 Mexico 1929-2012 |
| title | Vote Buying with Illegal Resources: Manifestation of a Weak Rule of Law in Mexico |
| title_full | Vote Buying with Illegal Resources: Manifestation of a Weak Rule of Law in Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Vote Buying with Illegal Resources: Manifestation of a Weak Rule of Law in Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vote Buying with Illegal Resources: Manifestation of a Weak Rule of Law in Mexico |
| title_short | Vote Buying with Illegal Resources: Manifestation of a Weak Rule of Law in Mexico |
| title_sort | vote buying with illegal resources manifestation of a weak rule of law in mexico |
| topic | Political Science Latin American Politics Campaigns and Elections Mexican Studies Mexico liberal democracy vote buying corruption campaign finance rule of law elections 300 320 322 324 Mexico 1929-2012 |
| url | http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/jpla/article/view/942 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gillesserra votebuyingwithillegalresourcesmanifestationofaweakruleoflawinmexico |