This work would not have been possible without the financial support of the Mexican Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). I would like to thank very specially Prof. Dr. Gunnar Folke Schuppert for his generous and patient guidance as supervisor of this work. His readiness to help me overcome the many “conceptual crises” in which I fell and keep myself always focused really made the difference. I also remain forever in debt to my mentor and friend Prof. Dr. Alexander Graser. He was willing not only to read the “kopfbelastenden” drafts of mine, but also to invite me to the University of Regensburg to discuss them with him and his team. I thank Prof. Dr. em. Ulrich K. Preu? for his friendship and helpful advice ever since my years at the Hertie School of Governance. Having him as a guest in my Rigorosum at the Humboldt University has been one of the greatest honors I have ever experienced.