By joining in a free trade agreement with Canada and the United States, Mexico has become the first independent developing country to be integrated with developed countries. While Mexico is expected to derive net benefits from this arrangement, it is clear that there will be losers as well as gainers. In addition, the evercloser integration between Mexico and the rest of North America carries implications for Mexico's relationship with the rest of the world.

All of these changes must be managed within a political system which has traditionally resolved such pressures in a relatively authoritarian way. This book explores the economic as well as socio-political dimensions of the changes expected in Mexico and the question whether economic liberalisation will necessarily lead to political liberalisation.