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- Convenor:
-
Melissa Boyd
(University of St Andrews)
Send message to Convenor
- Location:
- UP 4.213
- Start time:
- 12 April, 2013 at
Time zone: Europe/London
- Session slots:
- 1
Short Abstract:
This panel looks into the phenomenon of state formation in 19th century Mexico; through both the various 'legitimate' constitutional proposals and counterproposals that emerged as well as 'illegitimate' pronunciamientos, rebellions and insurgencies.
Long Abstract:
This panel seeks to consider various aspects of state formation in nineteenth century Mexico. In the decades that followed independence and continued into the second half of the century, dozens of constitutional projects were proposed, implemented and contested, as the newly nascent nation struggled to find a viable state formation. In addition to two failed attempts at an empire, federalist and centralist proposals and counterproposals and the eventual installation of the Porfirian dictatorship, a multitude of pronunciamientos, rebellions and insurrections wrote, re-wrote and moulded the way the Mexican state was constructed. This panel intends to explore not only the constitutional proposals presented, but to consider the circumstances, both political and social, that led a variety of actors to become involved in state and nation building, by licit or illicit means. Furthermore, it seeks not only to define who exactly these actors were but also to re-examine their motivations, goals and the underlying reasons for the actions they took. In doing so it will consider the various methods they used to challenge the political status quo and how this led to their perception and definition of the legitimacy or illegitimacy of a specific political action. Ultimately, its aim is to use its findings as a basis to define the political culture of nineteenth century Mexico.
Accepted papers:
Session 1Rosie Doyle (School of Advanced Study, London/ University of Bristol)
Paper short abstract:
Pronunciamientos forwarded proposals for laws and constitutions in the texts of their political plans. This paper looks at how the discourse of rights in the texts of pronunciamientos and constitutions launched and inaugurated between 1821 and 1876 related to the construction of political legitimacy.
Paper long abstract:
In liberal revolutionary Spain and Mexico, the pronunciamiento a form of "forceful negotiation" or political petitioning with armed backing, became the most commonly used, accepted and therefore legitimate means of effecting political change, a "necessary evil" which enabled the traditional corporate identities established over the Ancien Regime to blend with the new Liberal constitutional rules of the game. From the first pronunciamiento of Rafael Riego in 1820 pronunciamientos became the standard procedure for expressing political opposition. Pronunciamientos were considered legitimate due to the existence of the concept of the right to revolution or insurrection and the right to petition. Pronunciamientos were potentially a fast track to Liberal constitutional revolution or "controlled revolution" although the majority of those launched in the period served to petition to negotiate political change. Through the analysis of the discourses in pronunciamientos launched in Mexico between 1821 and 1876 this paper will look at the ways in which nineteenth century Mexican political actors used arguments relating to rights. It will discuss how the discourses about rights in pronunciamientos and political plans related to the constitutions of the period. It will analyse those political actors' understanding of political sovereignty, social contract and the rule of law, how this related to the construction of legitimacy for particular governments, laws and political actions and what that meant for nineteenth-century Mexican political culture.
Olusegun Afuape (Lagos State Polytechnic)
Paper short abstract:
The Mexican contemporary political development has roots in the crises of the nineteenth century with the conclusion that the choice of 16 September as independence anniversary makes the century important.
Paper long abstract:
Following the declaration of independence, known as "Grito de Dolores" by the radical Mexican Catholic priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on 16 September, 1810, there emerged a surfeit of crises which culminated in the demise of Hidalgo, the father of Mexican independence. However, it was the Treaty of Cordoba in 1821 which eventually established Mexico as an independent nation under a constitutional monarch, Emperor Agustin de Iturbide. His reign was, however, short-lived with republican insurgents, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and Guadalupe Victoria creating the first Mexican republic. This notwithstanding, the wave of crises persisted with external military occupation, the Mexican-American war which claimed half of the Mexican national territories, the disillusionment created by a coterie of illegal regimes as well as the destabilising role played by the pronunciados. All these, however, contributed to the evolution of modern Mexico. In light of these crises and spate of wars, this paper thus examines the historic effects of nineteenth century politicking on the present-day political attitudes, arguing that the crisis of legitimacy, lack of trust in the electoral process and the adoption of presidential system, among others have their roots in nineteenth century Mexico before reaching the conclusion that the Mexican celebration of independence on 16 September every year, and the declaration of independence a day before by the president and state governors in the manner Hidalgo did in 1810, is a testimony to the positive impact of nineteen century politics on modern Mexico.
Keywords: pronunciamiento, destabilisation, legitimacy, culture, pronunciados.
Melissa Boyd (University of St Andrews)
Paper short abstract:
Beginning in the decade immediately following independence, analysing the issues surrounding state formation developed into a constant concern of the Mexican intelligentsia. This paper seeks to examine this political discourse and examine the themes of legitimacy and illegitimacy that run through it
Paper long abstract:
Beginning in the decade immediately following independence, analysing the issues surrounding state formation, as well as the historical events which shaped them, developed into a constant concern of the Mexican intelligentsia. These actors, participated in the proposal, amendment and implementation of constitutional projects through 'legitimate' means. However, during their political career, many of these men also challenged the status quo by participating in pronunciamientos, revolts and revolutions. The various justifications they provide can be found in their political discourse, where motivations were put forth and accusations levied against political enemies. This paper seeks to examine this political discourse and analyse the themes of legitimacy and illegitimacy that run through it, exposing an often ambivalent approach to the right or wrong of certain political actions in the struggle to construct a nation.