This thesis presents a historical overview of federal-level police reforms initiated during the presidencies of Ernesto Zedillo, Vicente Fox, and Felipe Calderón in Mexico. Drawing upon Max Weber's theoretical analysis of state and bureaucratic authority, I argue that the endurance of neo-patrimonialism at both the state and institutional levels has stymied reforms aimed at institutionalizing rational-legal patterns of conduct within the police. The result is a law enforcement apparatus that remains inefficient and unprofessional, hindering the consolidation of democracy in Mexico. Overcoming this dilemma will require changing the relationship between state and society, with citizens acquiring the agency necessary to serve as a check on state power.
