Surge of the far-right in Mexico: Should the region be worried?

placidraven36 said:Man, my friend from down South, I used to feel the exact same way. If you look at things through that lens, you end up feeling like some kind of anti-nationalist radical. People pass you by and they look like they haven't given nationalism a second thought in their lives. When you really stop to think about it—and I mean really dive in—you start wondering, who are these people spreading all this hate? I don't recognize a single one of them in my actual life... so where are they hiding? And yet, it feels like there are more of them every day.

Maybe it isn’t actually that vague. It might not be that difficult to pin down this specific profile and find where they fit into society. In most cases, we are talking about very young people—physically and mentally still under construction, lacking any real life experience, which makes them incredibly easy to manipulate. They have plenty of energy but very little wisdom. Since they don't have real responsibilities or obligations yet, they are prone to making impulsive, poorly thought-out moves. Driven by intense frustration over perceived injustices, a lack of opportunity to live a stable life, or simply because their parents can't provide the existential security they need, they flock to interest groups or become their most vocal supporters. Once they feel that sense of revolt combined with a newfound feeling of power and false security within a group, they turn aggressive just to vent all that pent-up negative energy.
There is an interesting anecdote involving Schumacher that ties into this discussion:
"When journalists asked Schumacher why he went from being the fastest, unbeatable driver to someone everyone was overtaking, he told them: 'Back then, when I raced, there was nothing ahead of me, just empty space. Now, when I look ahead, I see my children, so I slow down.'"
There you have it. That is the cure for most forms of extremism: children. This is precisely why those without them tend to be more extreme; they have no reason to value their own lives or anyone else's.
Once they have kids, they'll settle down.🙂

placidraven36 said:I just hopped off a Mexican forum, and man, things are looking pretty grim over there. I honestly couldn't believe some of the stuff I was reading—it’s actually wild. You can see these ultra-nationalists and Russia-enthusiasts gaining serious ground every single day.

Look, I'm a Mexican myself, but it feels like the whole nation has been totally brainwashed... honestly, this mindset is just toxic—it’s honestly embarrassing! Ugh!!!!

Was this from Reddit or something?

Justin Patel8 said:Was this from Reddit or something?

Honestly, no matter which way you turn, it’s everywhere—even over there. It feels like things in this country really need a massive, fundamental overhaul at some point.

ironjackal16 said:Maybe it isn’t actually that vague. It might not be that difficult to pin down this specific profile and find where they fit into society. In most cases, we are talking about very young people—physically and mentally still under construction, lacking any real life experience, which makes them incredibly easy to manipulate. They have plenty of energy but very little wisdom. Since they don't have real responsibilities or obligations yet, they are prone to making impulsive, poorly thought-out moves. Driven by intense frustration over perceived injustices, a lack of opportunity to live a stable life, or simply because their parents can't provide the existential security they need, they flock to interest groups or become their most vocal supporters. Once they feel that sense of revolt combined with a newfound feeling of power and false security within a group, they turn aggressive just to vent all that pent-up negative energy.
There is an interesting anecdote involving Schumacher that ties into this discussion:
"When journalists asked Schumacher why he went from being the fastest, unbeatable driver to someone everyone was overtaking, he told them: 'Back then, when I raced, there was nothing ahead of me, just empty space. Now, when I look ahead, I see my children, so I slow down.'"
There you have it. That is the cure for most forms of extremism: children. This is precisely why those without them tend to be more extreme; they have no reason to value their own lives or anyone else's.
Once they have kids, they'll settle down.🙂

I get what you're saying, I really do—but what kind of country is this, and what kind of people are they, spitting on anyone who wants a civilized, orderly, Western-style nation and calling them traitors? Is wanting that really such a betrayal? Are the true patriots actually the ones pushing for war and claiming some sort of divine destiny, or is it maybe the people who just want a functional, modern Mexico that's actually worth living in?

placidraven36 said:Honestly, no matter which way you turn, it’s everywhere—even over there. It feels like things in this country really need a massive, fundamental overhaul at some point.

The thing that actually needs a radical overhaul is how we use the internet. 🙂
The truth is, the web is a double-edged sword: it can make a smart person even more capable, or it can make an idiot even more delusional.

ironjackal16 said:The thing that actually needs a radical overhaul is how we use the internet. 🙂
The truth is, the web is a double-edged sword: it can make a smart person even more capable, or it can make an idiot even more delusional.

Someone with actual common sense will spot a fool pretty quickly and just steer clear—it's that simple. But the people who lack judgment? They tend to gravitate toward those fools, eventually becoming one themselves—and once you fall into that trap, it’s a lifelong sentence.

It isn't really the kids under 20 that worry me—they're still figuring things out—it's the older crowd, the ones with fully formed personalities who have been acting foolishly for decades. It's those types who reject everything civilized and think anything that doesn't involve brute force is a joke. Honestly, that's one of the big reasons I want to leave Mexico—because since about 2008, there's been this massive surge in that kind of mindset. There's also a really interesting link between people's declining quality of life and the rise of extreme nationalism and religious fanaticism. It really says a lot about the collective psyche.

placidraven36 said:I get what you're saying, I really do—but what kind of country is this, and what kind of people are they, spitting on anyone who wants a civilized, orderly, Western-style nation and calling them traitors? Is wanting that really such a betrayal? Are the true patriots actually the ones pushing for war and claiming some sort of divine destiny, or is it maybe the people who just want a functional, modern Mexico that's actually worth living in?

A lot of toxic things have become tangled up here, and caught in that mess are people who are weak, frustrated, and generally stuck. They feel powerless and can't find their footing. All these hardships have become so intertwined that they think everything is directly connected; they've lost all faith in anyone and lack the patience to step back and think clearly. To them, the only way out seems to be violently tearing through the knot that’s suffocating them from every side. That's why they seem ready to go to war, and why they push for such aggressive, exclusionary tactics. They don't want peaceful solutions because they view them as useless—as if the pressure is too high to do anything other than shove and rip. The less intense that external pressure becomes on the people, the faster the hatred and aggression will fade.

You can talk about all you want, but just look at the projected numbers for the Republican Party and the Religious Right. That’s basically your entire pool of right-wing voters—everyone from the hardliners to the more moderate types over in the States.

nimblebadger19 said:You can talk about all you want, but just look at the projected numbers for the Republican Party and the Religious Right. That’s basically your entire pool of right-wing voters—everyone from the hardliners to the more moderate types over in the States.

and the Democratic Party

Like I said before, most young ultra-rightists are just frustrated kids who have been totally broken by the economic crisis and losing Mexico. They basically mask their own uselessness and inability to do anything productive in life by leaning into fascism.

I wouldn't say young fascists are any less dangerous than the old guard, though. I mean, the future belongs to the youth, right?
I haven't seen a single old man trying to beat up people at a Pride parade; it’s always been those young, animalistic hordes doing the dirty work. If you could just see the looks on their faces—pure, murderous hatred... honestly, those kids are ready to commit ten more Srebrenicas right this second without even a shred of shame.
During the handball championship finals, the whole arena was chanting Ratko Mercer, Brice Taton got killed, tourists were getting beaten up, and there were even attempts to lynch American fans. And it was all the young crowd driving that energy.

If anyone actually thinks those tens of thousands of punks (the same ones who tore up Mexico City back in '08 and '10) are going to repent, they are dead wrong. They’ll be extremists for the rest of their lives, and the only way to "re-educate" them would probably be via electric shocks (not that I'm advocating for 😁).

In my opinion, the 1987-1995 generation (and probably others too) is the most extreme group we've ever seen in Mexico. Now we're approaching the point where they're finally gaining real voting power, where they'll be the ones directly deciding the outcome of 😲 elections. They've got parents who likely raised them with that authoritarian-patriarchal mindset, and eventually, they'll have kids of their own...

My brother, who's a chemistry professor at a high school in Mexico City, told me the exact same thing—he said he’s never seen this much hatred and aggression in young people as he sees now in the nineties generation. If he’s noticing this in High school students (and not just some kids in a rural vocational school), then I think the situation is pretty clear.
Mexico might be a majority-tolerant society right now, but I doubt it'll stay that way in a few years.

Rachel Carter90 said:and the Democratic Party

Like I said before, most young ultra-rightists are just frustrated kids who have been totally broken by the economic crisis and losing Mexico. They basically mask their own uselessness and inability to do anything productive in life by leaning into fascism.

I wouldn't say young fascists are any less dangerous than the old guard, though. I mean, the future belongs to the youth, right?
I haven't seen a single old man trying to beat up people at a Pride parade; it’s always been those young, animalistic hordes doing the dirty work. If you could just see the looks on their faces—pure, murderous hatred... honestly, those kids are ready to commit ten more Srebrenicas right this second without even a shred of shame.
During the handball championship finals, the whole arena was chanting Ratko Mercer, Brice Taton got killed, tourists were getting beaten up, and there were even attempts to lynch American fans. And it was all the young crowd driving that energy.

If anyone actually thinks those tens of thousands of punks (the same ones who tore up Mexico City back in '08 and '10) are going to repent, they are dead wrong. They’ll be extremists for the rest of their lives, and the only way to "re-educate" them would probably be via electric shocks (not that I'm advocating for 😁).

In my opinion, the 1987-1995 generation (and probably others too) is the most extreme group we've ever seen in Mexico. Now we're approaching the point where they're finally gaining real voting power, where they'll be the ones directly deciding the outcome of 😲 elections. They've got parents who likely raised them with that authoritarian-patriarchal mindset, and eventually, they'll have kids of their own...

My brother, who's a chemistry professor at a high school in Mexico City, told me the exact same thing—he said he’s never seen this much hatred and aggression in young people as he sees now in the nineties generation. If he’s noticing this in High school students (and not just some kids in a rural vocational school), then I think the situation is pretty clear.
Mexico might be a majority-tolerant society right now, but I doubt it'll stay that way in a few years.

Honestly, I don't see them as extremists at all—more like just skeptics about the EU, which you see plenty of in the European Parliament, including people even more hardcore than the Patriotic Party leader.

As for the rest of your point, these upcoming elections are exactly when those younger generations you’re talking about will head to the polls—and mark my words, this is precisely where the right wing is going to hit an all-time historical low. And that goes for everyone, whether they're considered "extreme" or not.

Nationalism as a driving ideology is basically evaporating in Mexico—you can see it everywhere from the political parties to the way campaigns are run. Even the hardliners aren't even banging on about high-level geopolitical drama anymore; they've shifted their focus entirely to the economy.

placidraven36 said:I just hopped off a Mexican forum, and man, things are looking pretty grim over there. I honestly couldn't believe some of the stuff I was reading—it’s actually wild. You can see these ultra-nationalists and Russia-enthusiasts gaining serious ground every single day.

Look, I'm a Mexican myself, but it feels like the whole nation has been totally brainwashed... honestly, this mindset is just toxic—it’s honestly embarrassing! Ugh!!!!

Buddy, just remember one thing. No matter how much you vent or write posts like that, Nenad Čanak and Čedomir Jovanovic are never going to be the ones actually calling the shots when it comes to the country's foreign or domestic policy.

Let me ask a question here. Why does anyone who isn't immediately sold on the EU get labeled a right-winger, a nationalist, or even a fascist?
I just don't get it—what's the point? Is everyone just supposed to sit around praising the EU? I guess if someone speaks up against NATO, they’re instantly branded a right-winger or a fascist.

lonebadger0 said:Let me ask a question here. Why does anyone who isn't immediately sold on the EU get labeled a right-winger, a nationalist, or even a fascist?
I just don't get it—what's the point? Is everyone just supposed to sit around praising the EU? I guess if someone speaks up against NATO, they’re instantly branded a right-winger or a fascist.

And on the flip side—why is anyone who supports the other side immediately labeled a traitor to the "heavenly" Mexican nation, an enemy of the people, or some paid mercenary? Does everyone really have to fawn over a Russia that’s basically acting like a bully just to be considered a "real" Mexican? Are we supposed to spit on anything remotely different just to prove our loyalty? It seems like if you have even a shred of common sense—you know, realizing that Russia is looking out for its own interests rather than ours—you aren't "true" enough. If your foreign policy isn't centered on this fake brotherhood with Russia, you're out. Is being a "real" Mexican strictly defined by being a nationalist, dreaming of expansionism, and constantly lecturing everyone else about what a Mexican should be?
Are the true patriots really the ones longing for the chaos of the 90s, the wars, and the violence? Or shouldn't they be the ones wanting our country to just be a normal, decent place to live?

By the way, neighbor—I’m definitely not a voter for either Nenad Čanak or Čedomir Jovanovic, but you’re starting to give off some serious Patriotic Party leader or Religious Right vibes.

lonebadger0 said:Let me ask you something. Why does anyone who isn't 100% down with the EU immediately get slapped with labels like right-winger, nationalist, or even fascist?

--following that radical pattern of twisting arguments--😉 look, I’m kind of an EU skeptic myself, but that doesn't make me a fascist or some ultra-right extremist.
The people we're talking about—the ones grabbing axes to hunt down soccer fans, the ones tossing their dads off balconies, the ones trying to turn the country into some religious caliphate, the ones targeting the LGBTQ+ community, the ones spray-painting racist slurs, the ones making excuses for war criminals and violent politics, or anyone else actively trashing human rights for specific groups... those are the fascists.

placidraven36 said:And why is it that anyone who disagrees is immediately branded a traitor to our people—basically an enemy of the state or some paid operative? Does being a "real" patriot mean you have to worship a certain version of Russia? Or does it mean you have to spit on anything that feels different just to prove your loyalty? Does having enough common sense to realize that Russia isn't doing us any favors—that they're just looking out for themselves—suddenly make you "not a real patriot"? Is it mandatory to steer our entire foreign policy toward this fake sense of brotherhood with Russia just to stay in everyone's good graces?

Look, everyone is playing their own hand. The Russians, the Americans, the Europeans... even us, at the end of the day.

We can't just cut ties with Russia overnight—and honestly, it’s not even about some deep emotional bond, it’s about the fact that they hold a veto at the UN. Same goes for China.

Quincy:

Does a "true" patriot absolutely have to be a hardline nationalist, obsessed with territorial expansion, and constantly preaching about how everyone else should fall in line?

But what about the middle ground? Is there nothing between those extreme nationalists and people like you guys, who basically claim we all have "brainwashed minds" just because we read posts from random people on a forum?

The folks sitting in that middle space—us—are usually the ones making the most sense. And frankly, it’s probably better that way. Extremists haven't exactly done much good for anyone, whether they're on the far right or the far left.

nimblebadger19 said:Look, everyone is playing their own hand. The Russians, the Americans, the Europeans... even us, at the end of the day.

We can't just cut ties with Russia overnight—and honestly, it’s not even about some deep emotional bond, it’s about the fact that they hold a veto at the UN. Same goes for China.

Quincy:

Does a "true" patriot absolutely have to be a hardline nationalist, obsessed with territorial expansion, and constantly preaching about how everyone else should fall in line?

But what about the middle ground? Is there nothing between those extreme nationalists and people like you guys, who basically claim we all have "brainwashed minds" just because we read posts from random people on a forum?

The folks sitting in that middle space—us—are usually the ones making the most sense. And frankly, it’s probably better that way. Extremists haven't exactly done much good for anyone, whether they're on the far right or the far left.

Now, hold on—I never actually said we *should* cut ties with Russia. Quite the opposite! My point is that we should take whatever we need from them while keeping our own interests front and center.
What I was really aiming at were those hardcore Russophiles—you know, the ones who, for some bizarre reason, all seem to be extreme right-wingers. I'm talking about the people dreaming of Russian rule, swearing allegiance to the Russians—our supposed "Orthodox brothers"—who supposedly want nothing but the best for us because they just "love" us so much.
Honestly, I don't get why people mix up affection with politics when politics is purely about interest.
Why is it always such a big deal for Mexicans to have some kind of "brotherhood"?
Hey, anyone is free to love Russia if they want, but when someone tells me we'll get more by turning our backs on Europe and joining some imaginary Eurasian Union—which will magically quintuple our standard of living and turn our country into a perfectly organized state—all I can do is laugh... and it's a pretty exhausted kind of laugh. Don't get me wrong, Russia is a rapidly developing nation, but anyone thinking they actually care about us is kidding themselves. I'm not a fan of the EU because I "love" them; quite the contrary, I just want to squeeze every bit of benefit out of them, and frankly, I think they offer way more than the Russians do.

placidraven36 said:Now, hold on—I never actually said we *should* cut ties with Russia. Quite the opposite! My point is that we should take whatever we need from them while keeping our own interests front and center.
What I was really aiming at were those hardcore Russophiles—you know, the ones who, for some bizarre reason, all seem to be extreme right-wingers. I'm talking about the people dreaming of Russian rule, swearing allegiance to the Russians—our supposed "Orthodox brothers"—who supposedly want nothing but the best for us because they just "love" us so much.
Honestly, I don't get why people mix up affection with politics when politics is purely about interest.
Why is it always such a big deal for Mexicans to have some kind of "brotherhood"?
Hey, anyone is free to love Russia if they want, but when someone tells me we'll get more by turning our backs on Europe and joining some imaginary Eurasian Union—which will magically quintuple our standard of living and turn our country into a perfectly organized state—all I can do is laugh... and it's a pretty exhausted kind of laugh. Don't get me wrong, Russia is a rapidly developing nation, but anyone thinking they actually care about us is kidding themselves. I'm not a fan of the EU because I "love" them; quite the contrary, I just want to squeeze every bit of benefit out of them, and frankly, I think they offer way more than the Russians do.

And honestly, how many people in Mexico actually feel that way? Maybe 2%? Even less.

Quincy:

Hey, everyone’s entitled to their feelings about Russia, but when someone tells me we'll be better off turning our backs on Europe to join some imaginary Eurasian Union—which will magically quintuple our standard of living and turn Mexico into a powerhouse—I can't help but laugh... though it's mostly out of pure frustration. Don't get me wrong, Russia is developing fast, but anyone thinking they actually care about our welfare is kidding themselves. I'm not pro-EU because I'm some huge fan; I just want the benefits, and frankly, they offer way more than the Russians do.

I hear you, but again, I'm telling you—that group of people you're criticizing represents a tiny fraction of the total population.

Even among voters for the Republican Party, the Religious Right, or the Democratic Party, you don't even see that level of intense Russophilia. It's only a small subset of their base.
Most people either view Russia positively or they're just indifferent. But those absolute fanatics and true believers you're talking about? They are few and far between.

I have a feeling those doors aren't going to make it into Congress.
Which basically means we’re left with nothing but the radicals acting like total extremists.
Honestly, I don't see that as a bad thing.
No matter how much people might have disliked Nikolic, he actually pulled off something decent by pivoting toward more mainstream politics; at this point, I don't think he poses much of a threat anymore.

Rachel Carter90 said:Absolutely depressing: One in ten high schoolers thinks hitting women is okay

Like, 36.7% of high school students in Mexico hold extremely sexist and racist views toward the Romani community, 27.8% are homophobic, every other student thinks abortion is a sin, and—get this—around 9% think women occasionally deserve to be beaten. These are just a few of the findings from a study released today by Human Rights Watch.

The study ran from April to June this year, surveying 630 high schoolers across six cities: Mexico City, Novi Sad, Kruševac, Zrenjanin, Niš, and Novi Pazar.

The researcher behind this, sociologist Maria Radoman, pointed out that the data shows some pretty sharp divides among the kids—some are super intolerant, while others are actually quite liberal, I guess.
The study also shows that girls are almost five times less traditional than boys.
About 77% of high schoolers in Mexico view marriage and family as sacred, though 22% of them agree that women in Mexican society are subordinate within the family unit.
Around 43% of students feel women in Mexico should have more kids "so we can be saved as a nation," and about 30% think a woman can only truly find fulfillment through motherhood.
Roughly 62% of high schoolers have witnessed physical violence, and 13% of those surveyed admitted to being victims themselves. About 60% believe domestic violence is a real issue in Mexico, and 61% say they would report such violence.

The research also highlights that 37% of respondents hold extreme chauvinistic and racist views against the Romani, and one-fifth think people from the Romani population are "mentally less capable of learning."

One in five thinks gay people deserve to be beaten.

Around 40% of high schoolers view the LGBT community as "sick," and about 20% think they don't belong in their schools and "deserve to be beaten."

"About 14% of high schoolers believe same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children, and 16.5% support same-sex marriage," sociologist Maria Radoman stated.

So what's the solution then?🤷

Rachel Carter90 said:The thing is, your media just can't wrap their heads around the fact that this isn't the old-school Mexico anymore.

As if things were better back then.🤣