Mexico’s hands‑off federal cohesion

Mexico’s territorial coherence stems from long‑running geography-driven decentralization: rugged terrain and a tradition of permissive, local autonomy produced a federal, networked polity that remained intact after independence even while many other post‑colonial empires fragmented. That historical structure helps explain why land reform, ejidos, regional violence (e.g., Guerrero), and recent judicial reforms play out differently in Mexico than in more centralized states. — Framing Mexico as a durable federation of semi‑autonomous regions changes how policymakers and analysts should evaluate reforms, security strategies, and development priorities across Latin America.