The origins of Mexican culture date back to the Mayan and Aztec Indians. Their empires were destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors (assisted by European diseases, superior militarytechnology, and infighting amongst the Amerindian tribes), and Mexico came under colonial rule in 1521.

 

By the 1700s, Mexico had become the heart of the viceroyalty of New Spain, which encompassed all of Central America down to Panama. One advocate of independence was a parish priest from the Mexican town of Dolores. This priest, Father Miguel Hildalgo, issued a call for independence, known as “the Grito de Dolores” (the Cry from Dolores). Delivered on September 16, 1810, the Grito de Dolores became one of the most famous speeches in Mexican history. Father Hildago led a rebellion against the viceregal forces, but he was captured and executed in 1811. After eleven years of rebellion, Mexican independence was finally achieved in 1821. But the new nation became a monarchy, rather than a republic, angering many of the rebels. A defector from the Spanish viceregency, Colonel Agustín de Iturbide had himself inaugurated as the first emperor of Mexico in 1822. After just nine months in office, Iturbide was forced to abdicate by military leader Antonio López de Santa Anna.

 

The first Mexican Constitution was approved in 1824, establishing the Republic of Mexico. Guadalupe Victoria became Mexico’s first president. Santa Anna seized the presidency of Mexico in 1833. During the next twenty-two years, Santa Anna occupied the presidency no less than eleven separate times. 

 

In 1836, Texas successfully achieved independence from Mexico, following the defeat of Santa Anna’s forces at the Battle of San Jacinto. When Mexico protested the admission of Texas into the United States, the U.S. Congress declared war. By 1848, Mexico’s forces were defeated, and the United States annexed the Mexican territory west of Texas. This annexed territory now forms all or part of the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

 

In 1862, Napoleon III of France decided to conquer all of Mexico. Napoleon restored the Mexican monarchy and placed Archduke Maximilian of Austria on the throne. Following the end of the U.S. Civil War, the United States was in position to demand the removal of French forces from Mexico under the Monroe Doctrine. The French troops left, but Maximilian refused to abdicate.

 

Mexican forces under Benito Juárez defeated the remaining imperial forces in May 1867, and Maximilian was executed by firing squad the next month.

 

In 1876, Porfirio Díaz first came to power in Mexico. For the next thirty-four years, he ruled Mexico either directly as president or indirectly through his proxies. This period was known as the “Porfiriato.”

 

Opposition to the dictatorship of the Porfiriato erupted into strikes in 1910. Rebel leaders Pancho Villa, Pascual Orozco, and Emiliano Zapata all led factions that fought the government. Eventually, Mexico was divided into two camps: the Constitutionalists and the Radicals.  

 

Slowly, the Constitutionalists gained the upper hand. By the time the rebellion ceased in 1920, the decade-long revolution had cost the lives of almost one out of every eight Mexicans. 

 

As Mexico’s economy continued to grow after World War II, so did the country’s population. The population doubled, and the poor left their small farms and moved to the cities. During the presidency from 1988 to 1994 of a Harvard-educated technocrat, Carlos Salinas  de Gortari, the Mexican economy improved. Salinas signed the North American Free Trade

 

Agreement (NAFTA), which is known in Mexico as Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC). Vicente Fox Quesada was elected president in 2000, ending seventy-one years of national dominance by the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party).

 

Type of G overnment

The United States of Mexico—as Mexico is officially known—is a federal republic. The head of the government is the president, who is elected to a six-year term and cannot be re-elected. During the seventy-one-year rule of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) Party, presidents were generally able to handpick their successors. Whether this will continue remains to be seen.

 

There is a bicameral legislature with a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies, plus a judicial Supreme Court.

 

Language

Spanish is the official language of Mexico, although ethnologue.com also lists over 200 Amerindian languages.In the past, French was the foreign language of choice of the upper class. English is now the most popular second language, and an English speaker is usually near at hand in most multinational firms.

 

The Mexican View

There is no official religion in Mexico, but almost 90 percent of Mexicans are Roman Catholic. Protestants account for around 5 percent, and their percentage is growing—notably among the Evangelical sects.

 

NAFTA and privatization have changed everyday life in Mexico, at least for consumers and nonagricultural workers. For example, after decades of protectionism, foreign consumer goods are readily available in Mexico.

 

Young Mexican executives are generally familiar with foreign business practices and online communications. Most Mexicans are highly skeptical of authority figures. Politicians and police alike are often seen as corrupt and self-serving. Outlaws who are honest about their criminality are sometimes glamorized, especially narcotics traffickers.

 

Mexico is one of the United States’ most important trade partners. It is the third largest exporter to the United States, and its international trade products include oil exports, tourism, and the products of its many assembly plants (called maquiladoras).

 

Know Before You Go

Currently, the greatest concern of foreign visitors in Mexico is street crime, up to and including kidnapping. Kidnappers range from highly organized groups who target specific individuals, to kidnappers-of-opportunity who grab random, affluent-looking targets.

 

Mexico City, with nearly 20 million inhabitants, is the second largest urban area in the world. Despite efforts to limit air pollution, the problems with air quality in Mexico City remain.

 

Mexico has numerous high-altitude sites. Altitude sickness can strike anyone, even if you have never experienced it before. There is no sure prevention except gradual acclimation to high elevation: once you get to 6,000 feet above sea level, spend at least two nights there. Repeat this acclimation period at each increase of 3,000 feet. Alcohol consumption

 

tends to make the symptoms worse. Sunburn is also a danger at high altitudes because there is less atmosphere to protect you from the sun.

 

Cultural Orientation

Cognitive S tyles: H ow Mexicans O rganize and P rocess Information

In Mexico, information is readily accepted for purposes of discussion, but little movement in attitude is seen. Mexicans tend to become personally involved in each situation and look at the particulars rather than initially using a rule or law to solve problems.

 

Negotiation Strate

gies: What Mexicans A ccept as E vidence Subjective feelings generally form the basis for truth, and this can lead to the truth altering depending on perceptions and desires. Faith in the ideologies of the Catholic Church, though pervasive, does not greatly affect their perception of the truth. Those with a higher education more often use objective facts.

 

Value S ystems:  The Basis for Behavior

Mexico’s long and unhappy history with the United States makes Mexicans suspicious of U.S. businesspeople—and, to a lesser extent, of foreigners from any industrialized country. The following three sections identify the Value System in the predominant culture—their methods of dividing right from wrong, good from evil, and so forth.

 

Locus of Decision-Making

The individual is responsible for his or her decisions, but the best interest of the family or group is a dominating factor. One must know a person before doing business with him or her, and the only way to know a person in Mexico is to know the family. Expertise is less important than how one fits into the group, so it is extremely important to cultivate personal relations with the right people in the right places.

 

Sources of Anxiety Reduction

It is one’s role in the social structure and the presence of the extended family that give a sense of stability to life. However, families exert pressure on the behavior of their members. Group members are bound by intense friendship and personal relations and commit themselves to assisting one another in case of need. This network of relatives, friends, and memberships is crucial to class affiliation and social mobility. All of these expect mutual support—a lifelong commitment.

 

Mexicans have been charted as risk-averse and resistant to change. Their societal norms have not varied significantly in the last decade.

 

Issues of E quality/Inequality

There are extreme contrasts between rich and poor, but Mexico has the largest upper middle class of all Latin American countries—all interrelated in one way or another. Machismo is very strong, and there is a general belief that if there is an opportunity for sex to occur, it will. Mexicans are also known for their endless variety of sexual double-entendres. Many innocuous Spanish terms have slang sexual meanings.

For women, femininity is stressed in dress, makeup, and behavior. Despite widespread

machismo, most Mexicans believe that mothers are the central figure in every family.

 

Business P ractic es

Punctuality, A ppointments, and Local Time

Punctuality, although admired, is not strictly adhered to in daily life. However, it is expected from foreigners and in business circles, so be on time for appointments—but bring some work in case your counterpart is late.

● Punctuality is not expected for parties, dinner invitations, and so forth. Be at least thirty minutes late when invited to a party at a Mexican home. In Mexico City, be at least one hour late; some guests will be two or even three hours late.

● Make appointments approximately two weeks prior to your arrival in Mexico by e-mail or phone, then reconfirm it a week before. Establish your contacts as high up in the organization as possible. Use a local persona bien colocada (well-connected person) to make introductions and contacts for you.

● Meetings may take place at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Let your counterpart select which time.

● Mexico is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (G.M.T. –6), or one hour behind U.S. Eastern Standard Time (E.S.T. –1).

 

Negotiating

● The business atmosphere is friendly, gracious, and unhurried.

● The pace will tend to be slower than that of Canada, the United States or northern Europe. Decisions are made at top levels, with consultation at lower levels. This may take time. Be calm and patient with delays and build them into your expectations.

● Personal friendships are vital to business in Mexico. Mexicans look for long-term relationships based on mutual trust and reliability, or personalismo. It is important to spend time building these relationships, as your friendship will mean more to your prospects than the multinational firm you represent. Plan to make repeated visits and maintain contact after your trips.

● Be warm and personal, yet retain your dignity, courtesy, and diplomacy. Your Mexican counterparts may initially seem vague, suspicious, and indirect. Overcome this with trust and goodwill.

● Mexicans highly value the individual dignity of a person, regardless of social standing or material wealth. It is important not to pull rank, publicly criticize anyone, or do anything that will cause an individual to be humiliated.

● Mexicans avoid saying “no.” “Maybe” or “we will see” may actually mean “no.” Get all

agreements in writing, as the “yes” may have been said out of politeness and the agreement later reversed.

● When negotiating, emphasize the trust and mutual compatibility of the two companies. Stress the benefits to the person and his or her family and pride. This emotional approach may be more effective than the logical bottom line of a proposal.

● If there is a disagreement, do not overcompromise, because this would show weakness.

● Leave yourself a reasonable margin for negotiating in your prices.

● Use high-end, sharp visuals in your presentations.

● Although the situation is rapidly changing, there are still fewer women in upper levels of management than men. A woman should display her competence in a dignified manner, or she may face some initial lack of respect in Mexico.

● Mexicans are status conscious. At least one member of the negotiating team should be from higher-level management. Stay in prestigious hotels, eat at good restaurants, and mention major achievements (for example, advanced degrees from a prestigious university— if the topic arises).

● One major barrier in negotiations is the issue of financing the cost of foreign goods and services. Be prepared with some creative financing solutions.

 

Business Entertaining

● The best times for business meetings are breakfast or lunch, the main meal of the day. Business breakfasts are usually held at a guest’s hotel and start at 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. and may last for up to two hours.

● If you are invited to a Mexican home, do not expect to discuss business. Instead, use this time for socializing and meeting the family. Dinner is never eaten before 8:30 p.m. Arrive about thirty minutes late.

● Good topics of conversation include Mexican sights and your family and job at home. Sports are also good topics: football (soccer), baseball, basketball, and bullfighting. Topics to stay away from include historically sensitive issues such as Mexico’s territorial losses or the large numbers of Mexicans who work illegally in other countries, especially in the United States.

● It is customary for one person to pay the check for a group meal. This is often the oldest person in the group. It is good manners to haggle over paying the bill. Reciprocate by inviting the person out for another meal, insisting ahead of time that this will be your treat.

● You may be invited to a girl’s fifteenth birthday party. This is called a quinceañera and is an important occasion.

● It is not wise for foreign businesswomen to invite their counterparts to a business dinner unless other associates or spouses also attend. For business lunches, eat at your hotel and have the bill added to your tab. Otherwise men will resist having you pay.

 

Protocol

Greetings

● Men will shake hands in greeting. Women will often pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder instead of shaking hands. If they are close, they may hug or kiss each other on the cheek. Men may wait for women to initiate a handshake.

● Be prepared for a hug on the second or third meeting.

● At a party, give a slight nod to everyone as you enter the room. It is customary to greet and shake hands with each individual. Usually your host will introduce you. You are also expected to shake hands with each person when you leave.

 

Titles/Forms of A ddress

● Titles are very important in Mexico. Address a person directly by using his or her title only, such as Profesor. First names are used only by people on familiar terms. Wait for your counterpart to initiate this switch to first names.

 

Gestures

● Conversations take place at a much closer physical distance than what may be considered comfortable in the United States or northern Europe. Pulling away from your counterpart may be regarded as unfriendly—and your Mexican associate may simply step forward and close up the distance again.

● Mexican men are warm and friendly and make a lot of physical contact. They often touch shoulders or hold another’s arm. To withdraw from such a gesture is considered insulting.

● Mexicans may catch another’s attention in public with a psst-psst sound. This is not considered rude.

● Men should avoid putting their hands in their pockets. Hands on your hips indicate that you are making a challenge.

● When indicating height, always use the index finger. Only the height of an animal is shown by using the whole hand.

● In a store, pay for purchases by placing the money in the cashier’s hand, rather than on the counter.

 

Gifts

● Giving gifts to executives in a business context is not required at an initial meeting. However, small gifts, such as items with a company logo (for an early visit) or a bottle of wine or Scotch (on subsequent trips) are appreciated. If a gift of greater value is called for, desk clocks, finely made pens, or gold cigarette lighters are good choices (smoking is still common in Mexico).

● Small electronics, like MP3 players loaded with your associate’s favorite artist, or selections from prominent musicians in your country, make for a thoughtful gift. Make sure the electronic device was made in your country.

● Mexican secretaries expect gifts from foreign businesspeople. A government secretary who performs any service for you is generally given a token gift. For secretaries in the private sector, a more valuable gift should be given on a return visit.

● Gifts are not required from a dinner guest. An extension of thanks and a reciprocal invitation are considered sufficient. However, a gift will be happily accepted if offered. Good choices are candy, flowers (if sent ahead, impress upon the florist that the delivery must arrive early or on time), or local crafts from home.

● Regional viewpoints on the significance of specific flowers vary—check with your hosts or the local embassy to determine appropriate floral arrangements.

● Avoid giving gifts made of silver; it can be associated with trinkets sold to tourists in Mexico.

● Gifts of knives should be avoided in Latin America; they can symbolize the severing of a friendship.

 

Cultural Note

Mexicans feel compelled to help someone who asks for assistance. If you become lost in Mexico City, asking for directions can easily become a group event. There are many stories of travelers who ask one person for help, and that individual consults with another Mejicano, who asks a cab driver, etc. The process is only resolved when everyone is satisfied that the lost innocent is safely on his or her way—often with a personal guide.

 

Dress

● For business, men should wear a conservative dark suit and tie; women should wear a suit, pantsuit, or dress.

● Pants and a light shirt are casual wear for men; women may wear a skirt or nice pants. Jeans are not considered appropriate unless they are tailored and well pressed.

● Revealing clothing for women and shorts for either sex are still sometimes viewed as inappropriate except at a resort. Men may wish to wear the traditional guayabera, a light shirt worn untucked.