The National Context of Mexico City's Teacher Protests

Ongoing demonstrations in Mexico City that began as a challenge to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's education reform have attracted support from political movements opposed to the president's various other policies. Most notably, opponents of a proposed energy reform have joined forces with Mexican public school teachers, who have called for a nationwide strike on Sept. 4. The sustainability of the demonstrations may be limited, but the unrest is concerning for the government nonetheless, particularly because it stems from certain fundamental issues facing Mexico. The country must address the socio-economic roots of instability in poor, mountainous regions around the capital and find ways to control dissent near the political core. In the meantime, the growing conflict over education reform portends similar bouts of instability in the future.