“Porfirio Diaz’s loss of political control was due to social inequality.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

The question requires that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the statement that Porfirio Diaz’s loss of political control was due to social inequality. Reasons may predate the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may offer equal coverage of social inequality and other factors, or they may prioritize their assessment of the former. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to the widespread poverty, unequal land distribution, poor living and working conditions of Mexican peasants and workers. Other relevant factors, for example economic factors, Diaz’s advanced age, and the lack of social mobility of the bourgeoisie, local and provincial elites may be referred to, but with a focus on the issue in the question.

The question required candidates to consider the merits or otherwise of the statement that Porfirio Diaz’s loss of political control was due to social inequality. The question was quite often selected and led to a good range of responses with many candidates having success in their evaluation of reasons for Diaz’s loss of power. Opinions varied between economic and political conditions versus the claim of social inequality factors as the main cause for loss of political control. Other theories, such as foreign influence, were also asserted with some merit.