Abstract

FLORES ANDRADE, Anselmo. Businessmen and the Transition to Democracy: The Cases of Mexico and Spain. Rev. Mex. Sociol [online]. 2003, vol.65, n.3, pp.497-522. ISSN 2594-0651.

This article presents reflections on the behavior of Mexican and Spanish businessmen in their respective transitions to democracy from a comparative perspective. The author holds that in both situations, the type of transition, the characteristics of the actors, as well as the economic context in which the transition took place influenced businessmen's behavior in the face of political change. He highlights the greater autonomy of action and belligerence of Spanish businessmen in relation to the political change compared with their Mexican counterparts. He also points to the absence of links between Spanish businessmen and political parties during the process of transition.

Keywords : businessmen; business organizations; political transition; economy; democracy.