Final answer:
The triumph of Porfirio Díaz was a triumph of authoritarian rule, characterized by centralization of power and repression, contrary to the ideals of social equality and political decentralization seen in Mexico's earlier history. The option (D) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The triumph of Porfirio Díaz was also the triumph of authoritarian rule. Díaz’s regime, known for its centralization of power and repression of dissent, contrasts with the revolutionary aim of social equality and political decentralization that was expressed in earlier periods of Mexican history, such as during the Hidalgo revolt which saw the large-scale participation of the Indigenous and mixed-race labor force, and the Constitution of 1824 which attempted to balance liberal and conservative interests.
Despite some economic stability, Díaz’s long tenure was marked by a lack of democratic practices, social reforms, and equitable distribution of wealth. His rule exemplified the characteristics of mid-20th-century Western authoritarianism, echoing other authoritarian regimes where economic and personal freedoms existed in a limited scope without political freedom or democratic governance, as seen in Salazar’s Portugal and more contemporary examples like Egypt under Sidi. Therefore, option (D) is correct.