Molly Robbins Ms.

HaleasHines AP Comparative B 6 April 2011 Assignment #2 Civil society is a society where individuals cooperate with other one another and with public authority in tackling their individual and social problems. This is usually done through organizations apart from the government like trade unions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), charity organizations, civic movements, and many others. A cultures civil society also ensures representations of those interests groups, which cannot represent themselves by using economic and political means of power. The civil societies in Mexico and Britain differ due to the contrasting experiences each country has had with democracy. Unlike Britain, the practices of a democratic state are fairly new to Mexico. Before Vicente Foxs unexpected victory in Mexicos 2000 presidential campaign, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) had been an authoritarian figure for the last 70 years. The PRI government was sometimes called the perfect dictatorship limiting political conflict to the internal party and practicing quiet repression. This hindered the growth of Mexicos civil society because the authoritarian regime greatly limited opposition groups and movements. Britain, on the other hand, is a country and governmental system based around democratic principles. Its civil society has had an immensely longer time to develop and flourish because Britains system of government is fair and embraces opposition. Both Britain and Mexico have had a history of student led protests asking for justice, fairness, and political change. The way in which the respective governments react to these protests, however, is where Mexicos civil society differs from that of Britains. In 1968 students

in Mexico organized a series of protests and rallies against repression and violence from the government. The students made it clear that they did not want to overthrow the system; they simply wanted their voices to be heard and changes to be made. These protests occurred right before Mexicos modern introduction to the world through its hosting of the Olympics that year. The authoritarian PRI did not want untidy protests plaguing the country so the military was put into action to separate the protest. One thing led to another and thousands of innocent protestors were massacred. This type of conflict would prevent a healthy civil society from growing and only strengthened the peoples fear towards the regime. More recently, Mexicos drug wars have provoked hundreds of thousands of Mexicans to demonstrate over the soaring levels of drug-related warfare and violence. The civil society in Mexico, prior to the drug wars, mostly focused on better distribution of wealth between the rich and poor, fairer freedom of expression, and prevention of repression. Now, the civil society is swallowed up by the unofficial drug wars and the violence that plagues Mexico. Over the past 50 years Mexico has undoubtedly become a more democratic state, but protests against Calderons increasing censorship of the media is a sign that the Mexican government still has more improving to do. Slowly, but surely, Mexico is on the right path towards a fairer and freer democracy. By the amount and frequency of the protests Britain practices, Britains civil society is noticeably well developed. Within the last year, Britons have protested against the new coalitions decision to make budget cuts. The most recent protest, March for the Alternative, was March 26, 2011, in which 400,000 demonstrators gathered in London peacefully demanding, Kill the cuts! The government responded to these protests by providing policemen to supervise the area in case of any violent outbreak. Over the last 50 years, Britain has had eighteen protests

ranging from nuclear weapons, tuition fees, hunting and countryside causes, and Afghanistan. Over the last 50 years, Britain has been a reliable model for democracy. With the possibility of the alternative vote, the peoples voice will be amplified, only strengthening Britains path towards democratization.