Inspired by The Knight Irish's' TL...After its loss to the United States how could Mexico make enough of a comeback to be at least a second rate power? By 1900? By today? Without the French sticking around too long?
It would also help if Diaz decided to stay as a priest following the Mexican-American War, or he died during the shorter ATL Reforma War.
While the upper classes did benefit the most under Diaz the period was the most stable in Mexican history to that point. Had he allowed his subordinates take power sooner the devastation of the revolution.
Arguably under Porfirio Diaz they were doing exceedingly well, but his decision not to leave office and allow democratic elections led to the Mexican revolution which literally destroyed mexico until the PRI stabilized things in the 20's
I agree. If Diaz has retired in 1910 and allowed Reyes, or Madero to succeed him, then Porfiriato Mexico could have transitioned peacefully into a reformed state. Madero would likely have more success than a Reyes or Limantour since he is more of a reformer. Labor and land reform could have happened within stable institutions instead of a revolutionary society. The Mexican Revolution had a lot of successes, but the cost in blood and treasure was high, and ultimately a corrupt, bloated state sector in the economy would keep Mexico poor.
The Porfiriato achieved a lot of macroeconomic success, but its exploitation of the mass of Mexicans was a powder keg. Any government after him would have a lot of trouble dealing with these issues, and it is by no means certain that it would have succeeded.
However, there is certainly a lost opportunity in 1910.