Consolidating Democracy, Today’s Political Task

This article takes an in-depth look at Mexico’s first steps on the path to democracy. According to the author, Mexicans have realized that democracy is a valuable and irreplaceable political system, albeit a complex one. In Silva Herzog Márquez’ opinion, institutional reform has stagnated because neither political nor civil society have yet made the necessary transition to democracy and democratic institutions have yet to acquire the real worth they would have in a pluralist context. Furthermore, the rules that govern the Legislature are badly thought out, with the workings of Congress being too closely tied in with the workings of the country’s political parties, while the strength of the latter has not produced an efficient democratic system. Mexico, he says, needs politicians who exercise democracy responsibly. Silva Herzog Márquez also refers to a passive civil society, content to make demands but powerless to make decisions, and loath to assume its role as an arena for pluralism. His conclusion is that two elements are required for social cohesion —rules and policies— and that today’s political task is the consolidation of Mexico’s democracy.