Juárez and Díaz : machine politics in Mexico / Laurens Ballard Perry

This is an excellent account on the Restored Republic and the ascent of Porfirio Diaz. The central thesis is that Liberalism (in the traditional, European sense) has never been able to function in Mexico because the minimal conditions for it simply do not exist: democratic values, opportunities of access to power for a significant number of citizens, basic standards of education, etc. In consequence, XIXth Century "liberals", sincere as they may have been, were forced to govern in an un-democratic way, building on alliances and compromise with the powers-that-be, especially "caciques" and regional strongmen. This, in turn, justified new rebellions which constantly put at risk a minimum of political stability, until Diaz resolved - at least for thirty years - the problem with a sweeping repressive alliance. Perry insists that the lack of opportunities in industry and commerce forced many leaders with an entrepreneurial mind to turn to politics as the only way to wealth and power. There not being endless positions of such, they fought each other incessantly until Diaz came and introduced some order. But thirty years later, everything collapsed...

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