I DO NOT KNOW very much about political polarization in Mexico nor do I know much about the general psychological maturity of Mexicans. However, I have lived in Mexico since retiring in 2012 and I am interested in this topic. Using my trusted AI tool Perplexity, I decided to do some research as a follow-up to my other articles, Part I - America Personifiedand Part II - Canada Exposed.
Political polarization in Mexico is on the rise, undermining violence containment efforts and eroding trust in institutions.
A global survey conducted in 2022 found that 52 percent of Mexicans believed their country was very or extremely divided and that 65 percent believed it was unlikely that the divisions could be overcome. Moreover, a 2020 Latinobarómetro survey found that 51 percent of Mexicans felt they could have negative consequences if they freely expressed their opinions.
Hostility on social media platforms has also exacerbated polarization in Mexico. A Spanish consulting agency published a study about polarization on the internet across several Latin American countries, analyzing over 600 million tweets between 2017 and 2022 on a variety of issues in each country. In Mexico, the subject of human rights generated the most discussion, while freedom of expression was the most contested topic. Polarized conversations in the country often focused on the murder of journalists, threats from cartels, and human rights violations by authorities.
Living in a country with little polarization is not necessarily a good thing. I would not want to live in Saudi Arabia nor in China. I was surprised to see Sweden in the severely polarized group.
The headline-grabbing World Happiness Report is based on a single question put to people in 164 countries: how do you rate your life satisfaction on a scale of one to ten? Northern European nations––Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, etc.––always ranks highest for happiness. The new “Global Flourishing Study” gathers more multidimensional wellbeing data on 200,000-plus people in 22 countries to identify what makes people flourish––which isn’t just happiness, success, or how you feel on the inside. Yes, it asks people about their happiness, but also their physical and mental health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close social relationships, and financial situation.
The results are surprising. Indonesia, Mexico and the Philippines took the top three slots. Despite having lower incomes, people in these nations report having strong spiritual ties, meaningful lives, and a sense of purpose and family. Among the 22 countries, wealthier nations like the US (15th), Sweden (18th), UK (20th) and Japan (last, in 22nd) are not faring as well: they score high in financial stability but lower in meaning and connections. Other key findings: young people are struggling more compared to the past; flourishing scores are notably higher for married people; people who go to religious services regularly report higher scores in all areas (particularly happiness, meaning, and relationships); and childhood events (your relationships with your parents, whether you felt safe/healthy as a kid) predict your ability to flourish as an adult.
Canada was ranked #8 out of 218 countries.
And I was surprised by the results in the latest World Happiness Report 2025 with Mexico in the number 10 spot and trending in the right direction. For the record, Canada was ranked number 18 and the United States number 24. As I have noticed in my own family and friends, Canadians seem to be less happy than what would be expected by objective circumstances, subjectively number 18 while objectively number 8.
Countries with notable improvements
Mexico andCosta Rica: have entered the global top 10 for the first time. The improvement is attributed to its strong family and community bonds, cultural ethos, strong social systems and low corruption.
That low corruption comment applies to Costa Rica, not Mexico.
Having lived in Mexico since 2012, there were several other areas that I wanted to research and comment on.
It seems to me that Mexicans generally have a healthier attitude towards death and dying than Canadians.
The concept of death in Mexican culture is one unlike any other in the world – as we mourn death, we also celebrate it with humour and joy.
One of Mexico’s biggest and most widely known traditions is ‘Día de los Muertos’ which means ‘Day of the Dead.’ It is celebrated on 1 and 2 November and is a historic Mexican holiday where we remember that you never really die until your name is spoken for the last time.
A Mexican ritual that I am far less impressed by is Quinceañera.
In Mexico, the quinceañera is adorned with elegant jewelry and makeup. By tradition, this was to be the first time she would wear makeup in public, but in the 21st century, girls start using makeup at an earlier age… The ceremony of the last doll is based on a Maya tradition; it is related to the birthday girl's later giving up of the doll as she grows into womanhood.
The Mexican government defines machismo as a set of attitudes and behaviors that unfairly violate the dignity of women in comparison to men, often associated with deeply rooted gender norms perpetuated by immovable cultural aspects. According to a quotation from this official website, "stereotypes about machismo constitute critical ingredients of the symbolic capital used by ordinary Mexicans. For many, machismo is considered a constitutive part of Mexico's national heritage". This translates directly into social and family dynamics, where men are considered entitled to manage women's interactions and lives.
In Mexico, mental illness remains mostly in the shadows, out of sight.
An Ipsos survey, conducted for World Mental Health Day, has uncovered a notable discrepancy in mental health awareness and accessibility in Mexico. While 65% of respondents are conscious of their mental health, only 22% consider that mental and physical health receive equal treatment within Mexico’s healthcare system. This stark contrast underscores the restricted accessibility of mental health care in Mexico for a significant portion of the population.
And Mexico continues to struggle with corruption. Personally, we have been the victims of fraud on several occasions. Too many Mexicans are far too willing to take advantage of expats.
Mexico’s newly established National Anti-corruption System (NACS), signed into law on 18 July 2016, has the potential to become a game-changer in the country’s fight against corruption… The review found Mexico’s new laws to be essential, given the unfortunately major role that corruption plays in hindering Mexico’s growth, productivity and inclusiveness. However, it also identified some weaknesses and areas for improvement that need to be addressed if current plans are to result in real impact for the economy and society. In total, over 60 concrete proposals for action are included in the review, under four central themes…
And lastly, I found an insightful article with a message for everyone.
I am a Latin American woman, born and raised in beautiful Colombia, and I have called Mexico my home for nine years now… I wanted to explore what has been called the well-being paradox in Latin America and why self-report measures in the region consistently indicate higher-than-predicted levels of subjective well-being, despite various societal, economic, and political challenges.
Despite these challenges, well-being in Latin America is not solely dependent on income… a more nuanced understanding is necessary. The well-being paradox in Latin America serves as a compelling example that there is more to a good life than financial status…
A deeper exploration into these findings reveals that the abundance of close and intimate interpersonal relationships, along with their importance in Latin America, can be considered essential contributors to the experience of high positive affect.
And now I know a little more about political polarization and related matters in Mexico.
