A persistent revolution : history, nationalism, and politics in Mexico since 1968

Sheppard explores Mexico’s profound political, social, and economic changes through the lens of the persistent political power of Mexican revolutionary nationalism. By examining the major events and transformations in Mexico since 1968, he shows how historical myths such as the Mexican Revolution, Benito Juárez, and Emiliano Zapata as well as Catholic nationalism emerged during historical-commemoration ceremonies, in popular social and anti-neoliberal protest movements, and in debates between commentators, politicians, and intellectuals. Sheppard provides a new understanding of developments in Mexico since 1968 by placing these events in their historical context. The work further contributes to understandings of nationalism more generally by showing how revolutionary nationalism in Mexico functioned during a process of state dismantling rather than state building, and it shows how nationalism could serve as a powerful tool for non-elites to challenge the actions of those in power or to justify new citizenship rights as well as for elites seeking to ensure political stability. Since 1968, Mexico has transitioned from one party rule to a multiparty political system and from an economic nationalist to a neoliberal development model. Accompanying these profound political, social, and economic changes has been the remarkable persistence of the myths and symbols of a revolutionary nationalism associated with the Mexican Revolution of 1910. In this book, Sheppard examines the major events of Mexico's history since 1968 including the 1982 debt crisis, the 1994 Zapatista uprising, and the war between the Mexican state and drug cartels beginning in 2006. Sheppard weaves accounts of political speeches, patriotic commemorations, and debates between Mexican activists, intellectuals, and commentators in the media through this analysis to explain the persistence of historical myths and symbols such as the Mexican Revolution, Benito Juarez, and Emiliano Zapata as well as Catholic nationalism and their role in shaping contemporary Mexican society. In doing so, Sheppard provides an engaging and thoroughly researched new understanding of contemporary Mexican politics and society suitable for anyone seeking to understand Mexico's past and present. Sheppard explores Mexico s profound political, social, and economic changes through the lens of the persistent political power of Mexican revolutionary nationalism. By examining the major events and transformations in Mexico since 1968, he shows how historical myths such as the Mexican Revolution, Benito Juárez, and Emiliano Zapata as well as Catholic nationalism emerged during historical-commemoration ceremonies, in popular social and anti-neoliberal protest movements, and in debates between commentators, politicians, and intellectuals. Sheppard provides a new understanding of developments in Mexico since 1968 by placing these events in their historical context. The work further contributes to understandings of nationalism more generally by showing how revolutionary nationalism in Mexico functioned during a process of state dismantling rather than state building, and it shows how nationalism could serve as a powerful tool for non-elites to challenge the actions of those in power or to justify new citizenship rights as well as for elites seeking to ensure political stability. -- Amazon.com Front Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- CONTENTS -- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS -- INTRODUCTION: Mexico's National Epic -- SNAPSHOT ONE: Dos de octubre no se olvida -- CHAPTER ONE: Imagining and Inventing Mexico -- SNAPSHOT TWO: JoLoPo and the Bank Nationalization -- CHAPTER TWO: Making the Revolution Realistic -- SNAPSHOT THREE: ¡Ya es tiempo!: Chihuahua, 1986 -- CHAPTER THREE: Opposing the PRI: Freedom, Democracy, and Revolution -- SNAPSHOT FOUR: Independence Day, 1988 Introduction: Mexico's National Epic -- Imagining And Inventing Mexico -- Making The Revolution Realistic -- Opposing The Pri: Freedom, Democracy, And Revolution -- Carlos Salinas And Mexico's New Era Of Solidarity And Concertacion -- Land, Liberty, And The Mestizo Nation -- A New Revolution?. Randal Sheppard. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 333-358) And Index. CHAPTER FOUR: Carlos Salinas and Mexico's New Era of Solidarity and Concertación -- SNAPSHOT FIVE: ¡Ya basta! -- CHAPTER FIVE: Land, Liberty, and the Mestizo Nation -- SNAPSHOT SIX: Mexico 2010: Let's Celebrate -- CHAPTER SIX: A New Revolution? -- CONCLUSION -- NOTES -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX -- Back Cover