From a benefactor State, to a poliarchy. A social security comparative analysis in Mexico

Abstract

This essay suggests an analytical approach to the functional relationship kept between the State and private initiative, and society in Mexico, using social security as a coordination core. The study sets out a two period existence in this relationship dynamics, “welfare” stage and “poliarchy” stage. The document gives emphasis to how the Mexican State has looked for reaching legitimacy in front of society and enterprises through the exercise of values and democratic practices that have turned into different assurance models. This work includes three segments. In the first one, the origin of state assurance and how it was carried out into practice through the presidential regime. Subsequently, neoliberal transformations are examined, as well as their impacts on social security mechanics. Al last, an analysis based on empirical information is presented towards obtaining conclusions around Mexican citizens’ medical protection facing the risk used as analysis category of the population percentage included in health protection and equal opportunities to gain access into health services.