Dinamics of autocratization: Mexico 2021

Abstract

Mexico is undergoing a process of democratic backsliding. Three developments exemplified this phenomenon in 2021. Midterm elections for legislative and local branches posed a challenge to the autocratization process. However, voting results failed to impose a clear punishment to the López Obrador administration. Yet, while the government preserved a plurality in the lower chamber it lost the absolute majority that enabled it to amend the constitution single handedly. Secondly, the president used direct democracy mechanisms to manipulate and mobilize the electorate. The subordination of the judiciary in this process further confirmed that horizontal checks were ineffective. Lastly, the executive curtailed pluralism by going on the attack against critics, universities and scientists. Some observ-ers claim that state weakness might be a safeguard against the imposition of autocracy. Nonetheless, the case of Mexico shows that autocratization might proceed even when state capabilities are diminished. In conclusion, democracy in Mexico has shown some resilience, but an authoritarian restoration in the near future is still likely.