Violence In Mexico's Democratization

Mexico in recent years has become increasingly more violent. However, this seems to be a contradiction to an established theory that through democratization there is less violence. This seems to be an interesting development to Mexico’s recent democratization. So the question remains, did the institutional changes that led to democracy in Mexico result in more violence?
My answer to this question is that the democratization of Mexico has resulted in more violence because the PRI allowed for the criminals to coexist with the government while the competitive nature of democracy influenced politicians to fight the criminal activities. Many other authors attempt to answer this question, however, they do not fully analyze the competitive nature …show more content…
It is a common idea that democracy leads to a less violent society and also that democracy is better in all aspects. This question attempts to challenge the legitimacy democracy has and whether or not it is the best option for all societies. During this research paper, I will first elaborate further on the importance of this question. I will then discuss the answers that scholars have given to the question and why their answers are not satisfactory. I will then conclude with my theory as to why Mexico’s transition to democracy has led to more violence.
My research question is important because it would suggest that the best option for all is not a transition to democracy. Transitions to democracy are often followed by a decrease in violence. Also, through the competitive nature of democracy, there is less corruption found within the government. This question can help to answer the theoretical quandary that has occurred from the democratization of Mexico. The democratization of Mexico has led to neither less corruption nor less violence. It would appear that democracy has failed Mexico in that it has not kept many of the Mexican people …show more content…
This, in turn, increases the competition amongst other politicians to fight against violence and corruption. Through this competition, it becomes harder for the cartels to bribe and negotiate deals with the government. Osorio argues that through increased electoral competition and divided governments, democratization undermined the preexisting agreements between the politicians and criminals. Through democratic means, the people recognize who is most effective in dealing with the violence in their society. This, therefore, results in politicians who not only want to, but need to fight against the cartels because it is what is best for the public good. This, of course, results in more violence because once the cartels are pushed they will push back. Osorio illustrates perfectly how an increase in violence can be directly attributed to the democratization of