 Kenneth C. Shadlen, Orphaned by Democracy: Small Industry in Contemporary Mexico Small
industry in Mexico illustrates how representation can decrease during
democratization. Core sociopolitical attributes that affect capacities for
collective action and electoral resources distinguish small firms from big
business and labor. These attributes make it particularly difficult for
small firms to take advantage of increased social pluralism and electoral
competition. These insights are applied to Mexico in an examination of the
declining capacity of interest associations in a postcorporatist
environment, the challenges small firms face in securing representation
through integration in social movements and civil society organizations,
and the interaction between small industry and political parties in the
newly competitive national legislature. |