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Old Habits Die Hard: Political Patronage and Remittance-Led Development in Guanajuato, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2022

Benjamin James Waddell
Benjamin James Waddell*
Affiliation:
Adams State University
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Abstract

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The present study analyzes the role of collective remittances in promoting democratic consolidation amid the decentralization of political decision making in Mexico. Specifically, 1 analyze how the remittance-matching program 3 × 1 para Migrantes conditions municipal politics in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. To this end, I evaluate 3 × 1 para Migrantes investment patterns across Guanajuato's forty-six municipalities for the period 2001–2011. The results of my study indicate that, under the right conditions, remittances channeled through the 3 × 1 program stimulate higher levels of voter participation and in this manner have the potential to contribute to democratic growth. However, data patterns also indicate that 3 × 1 investments share a positive correlation with election cycles, demonstrating that local authorities may use the 3 × 1 program to garner political support. In this respect, my analysis calls into question the depth of democratic consolidation at the municipal level in the state of Guanajuato.

Resumo

Resumo

Este estudio analiza el efecto de las remesas colectivas en la promoción de la democracia en México, durante el periodo de descentralización política. En particular, se examina cómo el programa “3 × 1 para Migrantes” condiciona políticas municipales en el estado de Guanajuato, México. Para este propósito, se analizan las tendencias de inversiones del programa 3 × 1 en los cuarenta y seis municipios guanajuatenses, durante el periodo 2002–2011. Los resultados de este estudio indican que bajo las condiciones adecuadas, las remesas canalizadas por el programa 3 × 1 estimulan la participación electoral, y, de esa manera, tienen la capacidad de contribuir a avances democráticos. Sin embargo, las tendencias de los datos también indican que las inversiones del 3×1 mantienen una correlación positiva con los ciclos electorales, lo que sugiere que las autoridades locales usan el programa 3×1 para obtener apoyo electoral. En ese sentido, el análisis cuestiona el fenómeno de consolidación democrática a nivel municipal en el estado de Guanajuato.

Type
Research Article
Information
Latin American Research Review , Volume 50 , Issue 1 , 2015 , pp. 5 - 28
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 by the Latin American Studies Association

Footnotes

I would like to acknowledge the García-Robles Fulbright program for providing initial funding for this project. In addition, I am grateful to Robert Fiala, Manuel García y Griego, Mark Finney, Manuel Burgos, and Grant Burrier for their invaluable input on earlier drafts of this paper and project. Special thanks go to Richard L. Wood and Matías Fontenla for being exceptional mentors and even better friends. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Beatriz Amanda García Waddell, for challenging me to be a better person day in and day out. She is, without a doubt, my better half.

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