Conciliation against confrontation: how does the Partido Acción Nacional rule in Chihuahua?

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate these criticisms in the light of Barrio's two years in office. While a final verdict of his administration is premature and beyond the scope of this analysis, it is nonetheless possible to study the peculiar problems and dilemmas the Mexican opposition confronts in a political world still profusely controlled by the PRI. How does an opposition governor negotiate and bargain with an overly centralized federal government? To what extent is an opposition government in a position to change Mexico's deep-rooted political traditions. Is there really any important difference between the PRI and the PAN in the way they rule a state? The first part of this article explores the intergovernmental relations between the state government and the federal authorities and attempts to explain why Barrio adopted a conciliatory attitude. The second part analyzes the efforts of the panista administration in Chihuahua to introduce substantive changes and examines the dilemmas it has confronted along the way. The third part concludes with some observations about the role of the PAN in the transition towards democracy in Mexico.