Authoritarian Political Economy and Global Integration in Puebla, 1993–1999

Abstract

The 1990s witnessed the further politicization of the relationship between the state government and local business in Puebla. As this chapter shows, initial attempts by Governor Manuel Bartlett Diaz (1993–1999) to win over local business leaders through various concessions failed to avoid government-business conflict during the 1995 mid-term elections. The opposition PAN, supported by local business chambers, defeated the PRI in the race for mayor of Puebla for the first time in history. After the election, Bartlett curtailed relations with organized business leaders, undermining cooperation on economic policies. Instead, the government supported the efforts of the auto sector to transform itself into a global economic powerhouse, helping Puebla recover from the 1995 crisis but at the cost of growing economic concentration. As a result, the differences between local firms and the automotive enclave in Puebla were more pronounced than ever as NAFTA, Mexico's historic free trade agreement with the United States and Canada, took effect.