Rethinking Mexican Indigenismo : The INI’s Coordinating Center in Highland Chiapas and the Fate of a Utopian Project

Mexico's National Indigenist Institute (INI) was at the vanguard of hemispheric indigenismo from 1951 through the mid-1970s, thanks to the innovative development projects that were first introduced at its pilot Tseltal-Tsotsil Coordinating Center in highland Chiapas. This book traces how indigenista innovation gave way to stagnation as local opposition, shifting national priorities, and waning financial support took their toll. After 1970 indigenismo may have served the populist aims of president Luis Echeverria, but Mexican anthropologists, indigenistas, and the indigenous themselves increasingly challenged INI theory and practice and rendered them obsolete. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction 18 Part One. The Utopian Project 32 Chapter One. Dramatis Personae: The Indigenous, Ladinos, and Indigenistas 34 Chapter Two. Negotiating Indigenismo: The Bilingual Cultural Promoter 58 Chapter Three. Utopian Dreams and Mística Indigenista 80 Part Two. Sober Realities 106 Chapter Four. Winning the Battle, Losing the War: The INI Versus the Pedrero Alcohol Monopoly 108 Chapter Five. Take Two: The INI Charts a More Modest Course 130 Chapter Six. Modernizing Message, Mystical Messenger: The Many Uses of the Teatro Petul 150 Chapter Seven. Medical Pluralism and the Limits of INI Health Programs 172 Chapter Eight. From Innovation to Administration: The Coordinating Center’s Very Long Decade, 1958–1970 192 Chapter Nine. Did the INI Promote Caciquismo? 222 Part Three. Crisis, Rekindled Populism, and the Fate of Mexico Indigenismo 242 Chapter Ten. The Generation of 1968, the Critique of Mexican Anthropology, and the INI’s Response 244 Chapter Eleven. Indigenismo and the Populist Resurgance (1970 262 Conclusion 282 Notes 296 References 336 Index 354 Part I. The Utopian Project -- Dramatis Personae: The Indigenous, Ladinos, And Indigenistas -- Negotiating Indigenismo: The Bilingual Cultural Promoter -- Utopian Dreams And The Mística Indigenista -- Part Ii. Sober Realities -- Winning The Battle, Losing The War: The Ini Versus The Pedrero Alcohol Monopoly -- Take Two: The Ini Charts A More Modest Course -- Modernizing Message, Mystical Messenger: The Many Uses Of The Teatro Petul -- Medical Pluralism And The Limits Of Ini Health Programs -- From Innovation To Administration: The Coordinating Center's Very Long Decade, 1958-1970 -- Did The Ini Promote Caciquismo? -- Part Iii. Crisis, Rekindled Populism, And The Fate Of Mexican Indigenismo -- The Generation Of 1968, The Critique Of Mexican Anthropology, And The Ini's Response -- Indigenismo And The Populist Resurgence (1970-1976) -- Conclusion. Stephen E. Lewis. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 319-336) And Index.

Mexico’s National Indigenist Institute (INI) was at the vanguard of hemispheric indigenismo from 1951 through the mid-1970s, thanks to the innovative development projects that were first introduced at its pilot Tseltal-Tsotsil Coordinating Center in highland Chiapas. This book traces how indigenista innovation gave way to stagnation as local opposition, shifting national priorities, and waning financial support took their toll. After 1970 indigenismo may have served the populist aims of president Luis Echeverría, but Mexican anthropologists, indigenistas, and the indigenous themselves increasingly challenged INI theory and practice and rendered them obsolete.