Mexico Profundo 7

Chapter Overview

• Chapter Title: Our (Revolutionized) Modern Times

• Book: México Profundo by Guillermo Bonfil Batalla

• Context: Examines Mexico following the Revolution and its profound cultural implications.

Historical Context

• Last Year of Cardenas Administration (1940)

  • Key figure: Lazaro Cardenas, president who influenced revolutionary changes.

  • Background: 1910-1940 was marked by a significant transition from the Porfirio Diaz regime to revolutionary governance.

  • Constitution of 1917: Set the framework for modern Mexico post-Revolution.

Revolutionary Changes

• Displacement of Power Groups

  • Porfirian oligarchy (landowners, political bosses) replaced through agrarian reform.

  • Impact of the revolutionary army diminished, with civil authorities gaining control.

  • Foreign interests significantly affected, particularly following the expropriation of oil companies.

• New Intellectual Leadership

  • Transition from cientificos to revolutionary intellectuals who justified the national project.

  • Emphasized constructing a new cultural and national identity.

Cultural Control Post-Revolution

• Exclusion of Porfirian Elements

  • Struggle for dominance ensued among revolutionary leaders and generals.

  • Emergence of labor (workers) and campesinos (peasants) as structured political groups.

• New Bureaucracy and Industry Influence

  • Influence of bureaucracy grew; private enterprises provided advantages by participating in national projects.

  • Loyalty and Compliance: Essential for participation; rewards were based on obedience.

Economic Redistribution Goals

• Post-Revolutionary Distribution

  • Aimed to break ties from the Porfiriato for a broader cultural and material redistribution.

  • State control over resources, cultural elements deemed essential for national planning.

Identity and Mestizaje Ideology

• Cultural Homogeneity

  • Aimed for a culturally homogeneous society through the idea of mestizaje.

  • Acknowledgement of mestizo identity as central to Mexican nationalism.

  • Reference to Andres Molina Enriquez Ideal: Mestizos as the central political class, Indians relegated to a disorganized entity.

Revolution's Participants and Outcomes

• Diverse Participation

  • Different strata, with majority of combatants being Indigenous or de-Indianized peasants.

  • Urban middle class dominated leadership roles but recognized the need for a unified revolutionary front.

• Failed Integration of Diverse Ideals

  • The official revolutionary project did not fully reflect local demands for land and cultural preservation.

  • Contradiction between the agrarian reform (as a means of social justice) and the interests of modern agricultural development.

Indigenismo Movement and Impact

• Origins of Indigenismo

  • Established by Manuel Gamio advocating for integration without erasing cultural uniqueness.

  • Aimed for acknowledgement of regional diversity within Indian populations.

• Cultural Control Mechanisms

  • Efforts to educate Indigenous populations via Western standards without emphasizing their cultural backgrounds.

  • Promotion of Indian traditions and values overshadowed by a mainstream narrative of progress and modernization.

Post-Revolutionary Mexico's Identity Crisis

• Imaginary vs. Real Mexico

  • Contrast between the idealized national identity (imaginary Mexico) and the lived realities of the Mexico profundo (indigenous and rural societies).

  • Mexican media caters predominantly to urban, middle-class populations, marginalizing the reality of Indigenous peoples.

• Societal Fragmentation

  • Urban growth led to emerging inequalities and disconnect between rural origins and urban lifestyles.

  • Awareness of systemic violence continued post-Revolution, reflecting historical roots of domination and oppression.

Current Socio-Political Dynamics

• Continued Conflict and Inequality

  • Historical conflict over land ownership persists, driven by industrial expansion and modern agricultural policies.

  • Shift from visible political engagement of Indigenous peoples to political marginalization and cultural erasure.

• Education and Cultural Representation

  • Educational systems reinforce Western ideals, ignoring Indigenous contributions and knowledge.

  • Attempt at integration fails to honor diverse cultural identities, perpetuating a loss of Indigenous heritage in favor of a unified national identity.