A life together : Lucas Alamán and Mexico, 1792-1853

Lucas Alamán (1792-1853) was arguably the greatest statesman and certainly the greatest historian of Mexico in the three decades or so following the country’s achievement of its independence from Spain (1821) after a tremendously violent and destructive decade-long rebellion against the colonial power. Dubbed “a Metternich among Indians” by one contemporary, he was a conservative modernizer rather than the ruthless reactionary he has been branded. Several times chief minister in the national government but never president of the young republic, Alamán’s efforts to impose political stability on the country through implacable measures of state centralization, repression of political dissent, and the anti-democratic limitation of the popular electoral franchise were not aimed at building an authoritarian regime as such, but at establishing the conditions for the economic development--principally industrialization--that he believed would modernize the country and bring prosperity. This biography of Alamán portrays him against the chaotic background of nearly continual military and popular uprisings, a frail and stagnating economy, and a perennially bankrupt national treasury, and interacting with major political figures of the time, among them the ever-restive, swashbuckling Antonio López de Santa Anna. Alamán struggled as a politician against the swirling currents of liberalism, the federalism that threatened intermittently to tear the country into pieces, and the nation’s tragic confrontation with the territorial ambitions of the United States. His career as statesman, public intellectual, entrepreneur, and historian brightly illuminates the history of Mexico during a period when its very existence was imperiled. An eminent historian’s biography of one of Mexico’s most prominent statesmen, thinkers, and writers

Lucas Alamán (1792–1853) was the most prominent statesman, political economist, and historian in nineteenth†‘century Mexico. Alamán served as the central ministerial figure in the national government on three occasions, founded the Conservative Party in the wake of the Mexican†‘American War, and authored the greatest historical work on Mexico’s struggle for independence. Though Mexican historiography has painted Alamán as a reactionary, Van Young’s balanced portrait draws upon fifteen years of research to argue that Alamán was a conservative modernizer, whose north star was always economic development and political stability as the means of drawing Mexico into the North Atlantic world of advanced nation†‘states. Van Young illuminates Alamán’s contribution to the course of industrialization, advocacy for scientific development, and unerring faith in private property and institutions such as church and army as anchors for social stability, as well as his less commendable views, such as his disdain for popular democracy. "Lucas Alamán (1792-1853) was the most prominent statesman, political economist, and historian in nineteenth-century Mexico. Alamán served as the central ministerial figure in the national government on three occasions, founded the Conservative Party in the wake of the Mexican-American War, and authored the greatest historical work on Mexico's struggle for independence. Though Mexican historiography has painted Alamán as a reactionary, Van Young's balanced portrait draws upon fifteen years of research to argue that Alamán was a conservative modernizer, whose north star was always economic development and political stability as the means of drawing Mexico into the North Atlantic world of advanced nation-states. Van Young illuminates Alamán's contribution to the course of industrialization, advocacy for scientific development, and unerring faith in private property and institutions such as church and army as anchors for social stability, as well as his less commendable views, such as his disdain for popular democracy."-- Provided by publisher Lucas Alaman (1792-1853) was the most prominent statesman, political economist, and historian in nineteenth-century Mexico. Alaman served as the central ministerial figure in the national government on three occasions, founded the Conservative Party in the wake of the Mexican-American War, and authored the greatest historical work on Mexico's struggle for independence. Though Mexican historiography has painted Alaman as a reactionary, Van Young's balanced portrait draws upon fifteen years of research to argue that Alaman was a conservative modernizer, whose north star was always economic development and political stability as the means of drawing Mexico into the North Atlantic world of advanced nation-states. Van Young illuminates Alaman's contribution to the course of industrialization, advocacy for scientific development, and unerring faith in private property and institutions such as church and army as anchors for social stability, as well as his less commendable views, such as his disdain for popular democracy Lucas Alamán (1792-1853) was the most prominent statesman, political economist, and historian in nineteenth-century Mexico. Alamán served as the central ministerial figure in the national government on three occasions, founded the Conservative Party in the wake of the Mexican-American War, and authored the greatest historical work on Mexico's struggle for independence. Though Mexican historiography has painted Alamǹ as a reactionary, Van Young's balanced portrait draws upon fifteen years of research to argue that Alamán was a conservative moderniser, whose north star was always economic development and political stability as the means of drawing Mexico into the North Atlantic world of advanced nation-states Lucas Alam�an (1792-1853) was the most prominent statesman, political economist, and historian in nineteenth-century Mexico. Alam�an served as the central ministerial figure in the national government on three occasions, founded the Conservative Party in the wake of the Mexican-American War, and authored the greatest historical work on Mexico's struggle for independence. Though Mexican historiography has painted Alam�n as a reactionary, Van Young's balanced portrait draws upon fifteen years of research to argue that Alam�an was a conservative moderniser, whose north star was always economic development and political stability as the means of drawing Mexico into the North Atlantic world of advanced nation