Public Perceptions of Clean Elections in Mexico: An Analysis of the 2000, 2006, and 2012 Elections

This study explores how citizens in a newly democratized country with a legacy of electoral fraud and manipulation evaluate the cleanliness of the elections that have taken place since democratization. I argue that citizens in these contexts are more likely to express confidence in the credibility of elections when their electoral preferences are realized, due to the competitiveness of contemporary elections, but more importantly due to the legacy of electoral malpractice. Using panel data collected during the 2000, 2006, and 2012 Mexican elections, the evidence indicates that support for electoral winners is indeed associated with greater confidence in the cleanliness of election-day proceedings, whereas support for electoral losers is associated with less confidence.Este estudio explora cómo los ciudadanos de un país recientemente democratizado, con antecedentes de fraude electoral y manipulación, evalúan la limpieza de las elecciones desde la democratización. Sostengo que en estos contextos los ciudadanos tienen probabilidades más altas de expresar confianza en la credibilidad de las elecciones cuando sus preferencias electorales se realizan, debido a la competitividad de las elecciones contemporáneas; pero de manera más importante, debido al legado de las malas prácticas electorales. Utilizando datos de panel recopilados durante las elecciones mexicanas de 2000, 2006 y 2012, la evidencia indica que el apoyo a los ganadores electorales se asocia con una mayor confianza en la limpieza de los procedimientos electorales, mientras que el apoyo a los perdedores electorales se asocia con menos confianza

Jurisdiction over a Parent Corporation in Its Subsidiary\u27s State of Incorporation

In this paper we examine how Spanish language marks a political divide within the Latino community. Spanish language use also provides an opportunity for political parties to send slightly different campaign messages. We illustrate this point with reference to California’s Democratic part

Parameters Optimization and Repeatability Study on Low-Weldable Nickel-Based Superalloy René 80 Processed via Laser Powder–Bed Fusion (L-PBF)

This work aims to investigate the processability of René 80 via laser powder–bed fusion (L-PBF). René 80 is a poorly weldable Ni-superalloy, currently processed via investment casting to fabricate turbine blades working at an operating temperature of about 850 °C. The L-PBF parameters optimization aims to increase part integrity and enhance processing repeatability. This part was tackled by creating a complete design of experiments (DOE) in which laser power, scan speed and hatching distance were varied accordingly. Optimizing the abovementioned parameters minimized the crack density and pore area fraction. Hence, five parameter sets leading to a crack density lower than 100 µm/mm2 and a pore fraction between 0.045% and 0.085% were selected. Furthermore, the intra-print repeatability was studied by producing three specimens’ repetitions for each optimal set of parameters in the same build. The porosity value obtained was constant among repetitions, and the crack density (around 75 µm/mm2) had a slight standard deviation. The third step of the research assessed the inter-prints repeatability by producing a replica of the five selected parameter sets in a different build and by comparing the results with those studied previously. According to this latter study, the porosity fraction (ca. 0.06%) was constant in intra- and inter-print conditions. Conversely, crack density was lower than 100 µm/mm2 only in three sets of parameters, regardless of the intra- or inter-build cross-check. Finally, the best parameter set was chosen, emphasizing the average flaw fraction (least possible value) and repeatability. Once the optimal densification of the samples was achieved, the alloy’s microstructural features were also investigated

Effect of Cold Rolling on Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of a Dual-Phase Steel for Automotive Field

A new advanced dual-phase (DP) steel characterized by ferrite and bainite presence in equal fractions has been studied within this paper. The anisotropy change of this steel was assessed as a progressively more severe cold rolling process was introduced. Specifically, tensile tests were used to build a strain-hardening curve, which describes the evolution of this DP steel's mechanical properties as the thinning level increases from 20 to 70% with 10% step increments. As expected, the cold rolling process increases mechanical properties, profoundly altering the material's microstructure, which was assessed in depth using Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) analysis coupled with the Kernel Average Misorientation (KAM) maps. At the same time, the process strongly modifies the material planar anisotropy. Microstructural and mechanical assessment and the Kocks-Mecking model applied to this steel evidenced that a 50% strain hardening makes the DP steel isotropic. The material retains or resumes anisotropic behavior for a lower or higher degree of deformation. Furthermore, the paper evaluated the forming limit of this DP steel and introduced geometric limitations to testing the thin steel plates' mechanical properties

The effects of centralising electoral management board design

The public administration of elections frequently fails. Variation in the performance of electoral management boards around the world has been demonstrated, illustrated by delays in the count, inaccurate or incomplete voter registers, or severe queues at polling stations. Centralising the management of the electoral process has often been proposed as a solution. There has been little theorisation and no empirical investigations into the effects that centralising an already decentralised system would have, however. This article addresses this lacuna by conceptualising centralisation through the literature on bureaucratic control and discretion. It then empirically investigates the effects through a case study of centralisation in two UK referendums. Semi-structured interviews were used with those who devised the policy instrument and those who were subject to it. The introduction of central directions had some of the desired effects such as producing more consistent services and eliminating errors. It also had side effects, however, such as reducing economic efficiency in some areas and overlooking local knowledge. Furthermore, the reforms caused a decline of staff morale, job satisfaction and souring of relations among stakeholder organisations. The process of making organisational change therefore warrants closer attention by policy makers and future scholarship on electoral integrity

Percepciones Públicas de Elecciones Limpias en México: Un Análisis de las Elecciones de 2000, 2006 y 2012

This study explores how citizens in a newly democratized country with a legacy of electoral fraud and manipulation evaluate the cleanliness of the elections that have taken place since democratization. I argue that citizens in these contexts are more likely to express confidence in the credibility of elections when their electoral preferences are realized, due to the competitiveness of contemporary elections, but more importantly due to the legacy of electoral malpractice. Using panel data collected during the 2000, 2006, and 2012 Mexican elections, the evidence indicates that support for electoral winners is indeed associated with greater confidence in the cleanliness of election-day proceedings, whereas support for electoral losers is associated with less confidence.Este estudio explora cómo los ciudadanos de un país recientemente democratizado, con antecedentes de fraude electoral y manipulación, evalúan la limpieza de las elecciones desde la democratización. Sostengo que en estos contextos los ciudadanos tienen probabilidades más altas de expresar confianza en la credibilidad de las elecciones cuando sus preferencias electorales se realizan, debido a la competitividad de las elecciones contemporáneas; pero de manera más importante, debido al legado de las malas prácticas electorales. Utilizando datos de panel recopilados durante las elecciones mexicanas de 2000, 2006 y 2012, la evidencia indica que el apoyo a los ganadores electorales se asocia con una mayor confianza en la limpieza de los procedimientos electorales, mientras que el apoyo a los perdedores electorales se asocia con menos confianza

A Comparative Analysis of Electoral Management Bodies in Central America

This dissertation enhances our understanding of elections and electoral processes in developing democracies by examining the institutions responsible for the management of elections - electoral management bodies (EMBs). This study provides a comparative analysis of electoral management bodies in the Central American states that democratized during the third wave of democratization, including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In so doing, this dissertation 1) explains the introduction of formally independent EMBs in each of these cases, 2) explains the development of autonomy and impartiality exhibited by each EMB, and 3) explains citizens' trust in their respective EMB. This study contributes the scholarly literature on elections and election management in developing democracies. This study also makes a significant contribution to the policy community by indentifying concrete areas in which to strengthen democracy

A Comparative Analysis of Electoral Management Bodies in Central America

This dissertation enhances our understanding of elections and electoral processes in developing democracies by examining the institutions responsible for the management of elections - electoral management bodies (EMBs). This study provides a comparative analysis of electoral management bodies in the Central American states that democratized during the third wave of democratization, including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In so doing, this dissertation 1) explains the introduction of formally independent EMBs in each of these cases, 2) explains the development of autonomy and impartiality exhibited by each EMB, and 3) explains citizens' trust in their respective EMB. This study contributes the scholarly literature on elections and election management in developing democracies. This study also makes a significant contribution to the policy community by indentifying concrete areas in which to strengthen democracy

The Impact of Law Enforcement Centralisation and Professionalisation on Public Opinion of the Mexican Police

Pandemic violence and criminality are anathema to a democratic society. And yet, in Latin America, both operate side by side. Illicit activity has propagated precisely because the democratic states of the region have been ineffective at establishing and maintaining the rule of law via public security mechanisms like the police. This ineffectiveness has significant consequences for public support of police forces. Hence, an important question for students of state-building and democratisation is: What factors explain public perceptions of the police? We argue that police forces that are local and unprofessional will be less trusted and viewed as less effective than their more centralised and professional counterparts of state and federal police. In short, we find that centralisation and professionalisation mitigate the impact of crime victimisation and police corruption on the public opinion of the police in Mexico. These findings are drawn from an analysis of the National Survey of Victimisation and Perceptions of Public Security (ENVIPE) in Mexico for 2012 and 2018

Assessment of the Hardening Behavior and Tensile Properties of a Cold-Rolled Bainitic–Ferritic Steel

The automotive field is continuously researching safer, high-strength, ductile materials. Nowadays, dual-phase (DP) steels are gaining importance, since they meet all these requirements. Dual-phase steel made of ferrite and bainite is the object of a complete microstructural and mechanical characterization, which includes tensile and bending tests. This specific steel contains ferrite and bainite in equal parts; ferrite is the soft phase while bainite acts as a dispersed reinforcing system. This peculiar microstructure, together with fine dispersed carbides, an extremely low carbon content (0.09 wt%), and a minimal degree of strain hardening (less than 10%) allow this steel to compete with traditional medium-carbon single-phase steels. In this work, a full pearlitic C67 steel containing 0.67% carbon was used as a benchmark to build a comparative study between the DP and SP steels. Moreover, the Crussard–Jaoul (C-J) and Voce analysis were adopted to describe the hardening behavior of the two materials. Using the C-J analysis, it is possible to separately analyze the ferriteand bainite strain hardening and understand which alterations occur to DP steel after being cold rolled. On the other hand, the Voce equation was used to evaluate the dislocation density evolution as a function of the material state