Del vasallaje a la ciudadanía, 25 años de tensiones

Abstract

This article briefly explores the historic development of vassal relationships between citizens and the Mexican Government through a system of subordination and practices built in the state´s governance structures. From a social psychology perspective, the article reveals the significance of imagined realities and societal interpretations of distant and recent history with an emphasis on the collective experiences derived from citizen participation that has taken place during the economic and social polarization of the past 25 years. To illustrate this, the paper scrutinizes emblematic cases that demonstrate the current relationships and the tense relationships between the state and civil society and examples of resilience and citizen development in 3 fields: sustainable alternatives to growth, the expiration of human rights, and participatory democracy.