Teaching Comparative

Mexican standoff?

I'd guess we'll have to wait until at least September 6 to get an idea of what happens next in Mexico. I still think a comparative exercise that compared Obrador's approach to that of Al Gore in 2000 (regarding the results in Florida) or John Kerry in 2004 (regarding the results in Ohio) would be a valuable way to introduce students to comparative methods.

Here's part of the New York Times report for Monday, 31 July:


Leftist Plans Sit-Ins to Challenge Mexico Vote

"MEXICO CITY, July 30 — Four weeks after a very close election plunged this country into political crisis, the leftist candidate escalated his campaign to undo the official results, telling a mass rally of his supporters on Sunday that they must engage in civil disobedience to 'defend democracy' and force the recognition of 'my triumph as president.'

"'Mexico does not deserve to be governed by an illegitimate president,' said the candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a former Mexico City mayor who election officials say lost the national election by a mere 243,000 votes of 41 million cast.

"A special electoral court has yet to ratify the results and Mr. López Obrador has challenged the official tally, contending that there were widespread irregularities, human errors and, in some instances, fraud. He and his supporters want all the ballots counted again.

"Felipe Calderon, a conservative candidate who officials say received the most votes, contends that recounting all the votes is unnecessary and illegal. Poll workers, chosen at random like jurors and trained for the job, counted the ballots the night of the election in the presence of party officials and signed formal tally sheets...

"The tribunal has until Sept. 6 to resolve the legal challenges and declare the president-elect. Mr. López Obrador said he would not accept anything less than a full recount and promised to wage a campaign of civil disobedience until he got one..."

posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:03 AM