MEXICO. United Mexican States
A country in the southern part of North America (Mexico also owns several islands in the Pacific Ocean and in the Gulf of California). Area - 1,958.2 thousand km². Capital - Mexico City (over 20 million), other major cities: Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, León, Ciudad Juárez. Administrative-territorial division - 31 states and a federal district. Population - 106.5 million (2004), Mexicans; Spanish-Indian mestizos - 55%, indigenous people - 29%, descendants of Europeans - 15%. Official language - Spanish. Dominant religion - Catholicism. Currency - Mexican peso = 100 centavos.
It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (relations with Russia were established on December 11, 1890, with the USSR - August 4, 1924, interrupted in 1930, restored in 1942. After the collapse of the USSR, diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation were established on January 14, 1992).
National holiday - September 16 - Independence Day (1810).
According to the 1917 constitution (in effect with subsequent amendments), Mexico is a federal republic. The head of state and government is the president, elected for a 6-year term without the right to re-election (since December 2000 - V. Fox). Legislative power belongs to a bicameral General Congress, elected by a proportional representation system: the Senate - 128 senators, elected for 6 years (half of the Senate is elected every 3 years), the Chamber of Deputies - 500 deputies, elected for 3 years. The Chamber of Deputies was elected on July 6, 2003, the Senate was elected on July 2, 2000.
Political parties: The National Action Party (PAN) - founded in 1939, represents the interests of big capital, has particularly strong positions in the north of the country. After the victory of its candidate - V. Fox in the 2000 presidential elections, it became the ruling party. It has 151 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, 46 in the Senate. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) - founded in 1929, represents the interests of a wide range of centrist forces (entrepreneurs, peasants, workers, civil servants). Since 2000, it has been the main opposition force. It has the largest factions in Congress (244 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 60 in the Senate). The left-leaning Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) - created in 1989 as a result of the merger of the "democratic current" that left the PRI and various socialist-oriented parties, including a self-dissolved party. 97 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, 15 in the Senate. The left opposition (Labor Party), as well as the Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution, are small in number.
Trade union associations: Labor Congress, Confederation of Workers of Mexico, Federation of Unions of Civil Servants, and others.
In recent times, significant shifts have occurred in the internal political life of Mexico, related to the development of political pluralism and the democratization of the country's socio-political life. In the presidential elections held in July 2000, the candidate from the "Alliance for Change" (PAN, Green Ecological Party, Party for a New Republic) V. Fox won. The elections ended the hegemony of the PRI, which had been in power since 1929.
The territory of modern Mexico has been inhabited by indigenous tribes (Aztecs, Maya, Toltecs, Olmecs, etc.) since ancient times, who reached a high level of development. From the 16th century, it was a colony of Spain for three centuries. In 1810, the struggle for independence began, which was proclaimed in 1821. Since 1824 - a republic. Continuous internal political struggles weakened Mexico, which was exploited by the USA, which annexed Texas in 1845, and as a result of the war of 1846-48, seized more than half of Mexican territory. In 1859, the government of B. Juárez issued the "Reform Laws," which provided for the separation of church and state, the introduction of civil marriage, and more.
In 1910, the 30-year dictatorship of General P. Díaz was overthrown, and the democratic revolution began, which resulted in the adoption of the 1917 constitution - one of the most advanced for its time. In 1929, a long period of rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party began, characterized by loyalty to the ideas of the Mexican Revolution (the concept of "revolutionary nationalism"), as well as social balancing and a desire to maintain social peace in the country in a specific historical context.
In 1938, the government of L. Cárdenas nationalized the oil industry, which belonged to British and American companies. During World War II, Mexico sided with the anti-Hitler coalition.
V. Fox set a course for deep transformations in the country aimed at democratizing society, addressing acute socio-economic problems, and eliminating crime and corruption. In implementing his plans, V. Fox's administration faced strong opposition, which, having a majority in both the central legislative bodies and at the local level, blocked several major initiatives of the president in Congress, including those related to the reform of the most important economic sector of the country - energy.
A complex problem remains the regulation of the conflict situation in one of the poorest southern states of Mexico - Chiapas, where in January 1994, an armed uprising by indigenous people led by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) began. The crisis in Chiapas has taken on the characteristics of a protracted one. In September 1995, an agreement was signed between the government and the EZLN on the agenda, format, and regulations for peace negotiations. As of now, the parties have managed to develop a dialogue based on compromises and outline progress towards resolving the conflict through political methods. Since 2000, V. Fox has closely addressed this issue: government troops have been withdrawn from the state, a law on the rights and culture of indigenous peoples has been adopted, and representatives of the EZLN have been allowed to the podium of the Mexican parliament. This has allowed for a reduction in the sharpness of the problem.
Mexico conducts an active foreign policy aimed at absolute supremacy of law in world affairs, including unconditional respect for the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, nuclear and conventional disarmament, and equal cooperation among states. It was the initiator of the creation of a nuclear-free zone in Latin America, within the framework of the Contadora Group, it facilitated the resolution of the conflict in Central America through political means, and was part of the "Group of Six" states that proposed a number of peace initiatives in the field of nuclear disarmament. In 2002-03, it was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Mexico's relations with the USA are broad and multifaceted. In December 1992, it signed a free trade agreement in North America with Canada, which came into effect on January 1, 1994. Along with close cooperation, determined by geographical proximity and traditional economic ties, there are a number of complex problems (the situation of Mexican migrants in the USA, etc.).
Mexico is a member of the UN (since 1945), OECD (since 1994), APEC (since 1993), the only Latin American founding member of the EBRD, a member of the OAS (since 1948), LAIA (since 1981), and ALADI (since 1975).
Mexico is one of the main oil-producing and oil-exporting countries in the world; it ranks 4th in the world in oil reserves; it is rich in other energy resources (gas) and minerals (silver, lead-zinc, copper, manganese ores, sulfur). Over 15% of the economically active population is employed in industry. Leading industries: mining, oil, petrochemical, metallurgy, construction, textile, food.
The petrochemical and metallurgical industries of the country are characterized by the highest degree of concentration. Within the state oil corporation "Petróleos Mexicanos" ("Pemex"), there are more than 200 oil refining plants. Over 90% of the total output of pig iron and steel comes from 4 companies, of which 45% is from the company "Altos Hornos de México." Textile machinery, oil equipment, railway cars, cars, electric motors, transformers, seamless steel pipes, etc. are produced. The industry meets more than 85% of consumer demand in the domestic market.
In agriculture, about 30% of the economically active population is employed. To increase the efficiency of agricultural production, amendments were made to the country's constitution in 1992, allowing the buying and selling of land owned by agricultural communities - ejidos. Agricultural crops use 11% of the land, and pastures - 33%; artificial irrigation is applied to 5 million hectares of sown areas. Corn, wheat, sorghum, beans, rice, coffee, and sugarcane are grown. Livestock farming is extensive-pastoral, focused on meat and wool production.
In terms of overall economic development, Mexico significantly outpaces other Latin American countries and, together with Brazil and Argentina, forms the "big three" of Latin American industrial leaders. The country accounts for about 4% of regional GDP.
By the early 1980s, after 40 years of industrialization, Mexico transformed from an agrarian country with a predominance of rural population into an agrarian-industrial and highly urbanized state. However, in 1982, it entered a period of severe economic crisis, characterized by a decline in production and high external debt. The government sought to resolve this situation primarily through macroeconomic reforms and structural transformations, privatization of the economy, and opening it to global commercial flows, reducing government spending, and diversifying exports by reducing the share of oil in it. At the end of 1994, the financial and economic situation in Mexico sharply deteriorated. There was a sharp devaluation of the peso, stock prices fell, and a massive "flight" of capital from the country began. The government adopted the "Emergency Program to Overcome the Economic Crisis," which provided for a series of restrictive measures aimed at reducing the budget deficit, raising interest rates, controlling prices and wages, implementing tax reform, and accelerating the next stage of privatization of state enterprises.
By the late 1990s, the consequences of the 1994 crisis had largely been overcome, and a period of economic growth began. The GDP growth rates in Mexico remained quite high until recently (6.9% in 2000).
However, in 2000, the dynamics of the Mexican economy noticeably worsened: GDP decreased by 0.2%. This was largely due to the economic downturn in the USA and falling oil prices. In 2002, GDP increased by 0.9%, in 2003 - by 1.3%, in 2004 its growth was 4.1%. Inflation - about 5% (in 2003 - 4%). The budget deficit - about 0.7%, the unemployment rate - 3.6% of the economically active population (the highest figure in the last 10 years).
Gold and foreign exchange reserves increased to 59 billion dollars (in 2003 - 52.1 billion dollars). The total external debt of Mexico amounted to 159.8 billion dollars (in 2003 - 141.1 billion dollars).
The volume of Mexico's foreign trade (for 2004) amounted to 345 billion dollars, including exports - over 165.4 billion dollars, imports - over 180 billion dollars. In the structure of Mexican exports, the share of finished products and semi-finished goods predominates; the rest consists of oil (about 11% of the value of exports) and oil products, agricultural products, seafood, and others.
In Mexican exports, 75% goes to the USA and Canada, over 10% to the EU, about 4% to the countries of the Latin American Integration Association, and 2% to Asia-Pacific countries. In imports, semi-finished products, machinery and equipment, and consumer goods predominate.
Mexico is a country of ancient culture, which has made a significant contribution to the development of world civilization. Among the largest universities are the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of Nuevo León, the University of Guadalajara, the Autonomous University of Puebla, and the National Polytechnic Institute.
More than 2,000 periodicals are published, including about 230 daily newspapers. The most influential daily newspapers include "Universal" (170 thousand copies), "Excélsior" (200 thousand), "Nacional" (120 thousand), "El Heraldo de México" (200 thousand), "Norte" (134 thousand), "Ovasiones" (130 thousand), "Prensa" (200 thousand). There are over 700 radio stations and more than 100 television stations.
Leading television companies are "TV Azteca" (private) and "Televisa" (private). The leading news agency is Información Mexicana - Informex; government agency - Noticias Mexicanas - Notimex. Radio and television are under the jurisdiction of the government communication service.