Mexico’s nation-building challenges and drug gang control examined
5 reported
A recent column discusses Mexico's historical and ongoing challenges with nation-building and territorial control. The column notes that Mexico is still not a mature nation-state, with drug gangs potentially controlling as much as one-third of its territory. The article traces this instability to the 19th century, including the brief union with Central America after independence from Spain in 1821, repeated rebellions in Yucatán, the U.S.-Mexico War in the 1840s that resulted in the loss of about half of Mexico's territory, a civil war in 1857, and the French invasion in 1861 that installed Emperor Maximilian, who never controlled the entire country. The 1910 Mexican Revolution killed about 10 percent of the population by some estimates. The column states that much of Mexico never fell under unitary rule like the U.S. and Western Europe, and when the drug trade intensified in the 1990s, gangs operated with impunity and became de facto rulers of many territories, supplying public goods alongside illegal businesses. The column also notes that Mexico's central government spends just short of 23 percent of its GDP, which is relatively low for its development level compared to Brazil's 32 percent.
What’s reported
Drug gangs may control as much as one-third of Mexico's territory, according to one estimate.
Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821, and Central America briefly joined before splitting off.
The U.S. declared war on Mexico in the 1840s and took about half of its territory.
The 1910 Mexican Revolution killed about 10 percent of the population by some estimates.
Mexico's central government spends just short of 23 percent of its GDP, while Brazil spends over 32 percent.
Sources: marginalrevolution.com
