Question

Reply to the below comment. Do you agree with this statement?

Porfirio Diaz’s failure to think about the future of Mexico is one reason the Mexican Revolution started. Diaz should have chosen a worthy successor. Diaz knew that he was getting older and would not be able to remain in office long. In addition, Diaz knew how much he controlled Mexico and how much the country depended on him. “By this means he [Diaz] had become the only politician able to maneuver through the intricate maze of alliances and armistices. To ensure his control all deals precarious: in 1908 practically everything central depended on him. The very idea of his departure unsettled people and sent shivers through officeholders high and low” (“President Diaz Elects a Governor,” p.11). I believe Diaz should have been training up a successor in the public eye so the people will not be unsettled by the transition. Furthermore, Diaz should have also created a political team to deal with the future of the alliances and the armistices he oversaw. The economic crisis was another reason the Mexican Revolution started. “...the worst economic crisis of the Porfiriato, triggered by the recession in the USA, affected the living standards of all the social classes. The recession was compounded by a series of bad harvest which dislocated food supplies and drove up the price of staples. Inflation, falling wages, and unemployment spread unprecedented misery among the peasants and the industrial workers” (“The End of the Porfiriato,” p.380). Civilians were unpleased with their conditions, decided to strike, and support the Mexican Liberal Party(PLM). Because of the lack of a worthy successor and the discontent with civilians, the Mexican Revolution happened.

Answer 1

I agress with the statement.As the country was totally dependent on Porfirio Diaz, he should have thought about the future and must have elevated someone from his team to succeed him. He should have shown in the public that he had a plan for future and is training someone to lead after him.All power with Diaz was the reason to worry as the decentralized governance with his oversight could have been a great success formula for his party but they failed to capitalize. The lack of prudent economic policy and over-dependence on the US led to the deterioration in the economic independence of Mexico, as it fall with US's recession.

Thus, I totally agree with the statement shared in the question.