Mexico’s Fight for Security: Actions and Achievements

Abstract

The most important thing to keep in mind when looking at Mexico’s security challenges today is that profound structural changes have occurred in the criminal environment. Many changes followed the defeat of the hegemonic political party in 2000. The Partido Revolucionario Institucional’s (PRI) loss of its majority in congress opened the door to political change and to democracy, and a fundamental and coordinated response was required from the Mexican state. Sadly, the Mexican authorities failed to introduce all of the necessary changes at the right time to prevent a crisis in public security. That is why since his election five years ago, President Felipe Calderón and his administration have implemented a very direct, comprehensive, and structured strategy to deal with this problem.