The western media’s portrayal of Mexican politics is often negative and riddled with cherry picked incidents that serve to skew reality for many unsuspecting consumers of news media. Many times, this portrayal serves to justify the intrusive American overreach and justify public action in another country. Many believe that the western media works in tandem with the State Department, repeating their talking points without question. Let’s look at how these narratives are formed and how it has been used to manipulate public perception.
The Narrative Formation Process
The narrative formation process begins with the State Department, which works in tandem with other government agencies to craft a narrative about Mexico’s political system that favors U.S. interests. These narratives are then disseminated through the western media, which is widely-consumed by both Mexico and the United States alike. The media coverage is often slanted towards painting a negative picture of Mexico’s political system while simultaneously justifying intrusive American overreach into Mexico’s affairs.
Manipulation of Facts and Statistics
Another way that the western media misrepresents Mexico’s political system is through the manipulation of facts and statistics. By selectively reporting on certain issues or manipulating numbers, the media can paint an inaccurate picture of Mexico’s government and its performance. Unfortunately, this means that many people may have been misled into believing that there are more problems in Mexico than there actually are.
How It Affects Mexican Citizens
The negative portrayal of Mexico’s political system has been used as a tool to shape public opinion and influence how people view their own country as well as their leadership. This can lead to feelings of distrust towards their own government as well as a feeling of helplessness since they have no control over what is being reported in the news or said by foreign governments about them and their nation. Furthermore, it can lead to feelings of anger towards the U.S., since they are perceived as meddling in Mexico’s affairs without considering how this will affect everyday Mexicans who are just trying to live their lives peacefully and productively.
The western media’s portrayal of Mexico’s politics serves U.S Foreign Policy interests that often puts ordinary citizens need for facts at odds with one used to furthering American interests abroad at all costs. This strategy has been successful up until now, as many more Mexicans today understand how the Propaganda works, in part, thanks the President of Mexico that points them out during press conferences, however it still is important for Mexicans citizens to be aware of this tactic so they can make informed decisions about how they view their nation’s politics and leadership going forward. It is also essential for them to seek out alternative sources of information that may provide more accurate perspectives on Mexican politics outside those promoted by Western Media outlets. Doing so will help ensure that citizens have access to unbiased information free from manipulation or spin – something that all citizens should strive for when trying to make sense of today’s complex political landscape.
