Troublesome Border, Revised Edition

by Oscar J. Martinez

“U.S. residents are largely unaware that Mexicans also view their northern border with concern, and at times even alarm. Border communities, such as Ciudad Juárez and Tijuana, have long been subjected to heavy criticism from Mexico City and other interior areas for their close ties to the United States, a country viewed with apprehension and suspicion by the Mexican citizenry.”

Oscar Martínez’s words may come as a surprise to those who associate the U.S. southern border with banditry, racial strife, illegal migration, drug smuggling, and official corruption—all attributed to Mexico. In Troublesome Border , now revised to reflect the dramatic changes over the last two decades, a distinguished scholar and long-time resident of the border area addresses these and other problems that have caused increasing concern to federal governments on both sides of the border.

This second edition of Troublesome Border has been updated and revised to cover dramatic developments since the book’s first publication in 1988 that have once again transformed the region in fundamental ways. Martinez includes new information on migration and drugs, including the extraordinary rise of violence traced largely to the rampant illegal drug trade; the devastating effects of U.S. Border Patrol “blockades” that have resulted in thousands of deaths; and the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Jason Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a excellent and well written book that I would recommend for anyone, but especially for those who criticize the US for their handling of “border problems,” and for those who think building a wall will be the solution to these problems caused by the actions of their own policy makers.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a history book, so it's never going to be the most interesting read. I thought it was great though, it's such a thorough history of the border region without getting too long. The author brings up fascinating stories and policies that have happened since before the current border existed that help me put the current border situation in a better context. Highly recommend if you are interested in learning more about the region.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This looks at economic entanglement at the boarder and how much shared history this region has. The line looks completely arbitrary and changed over time to a great extent. The modern culture wars in this area are put into a greater historical context through reading this book.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, I will admit that most of my students referred to this book as "the burnt toast book" because they found it to be so dry. That said, it is the only current book I've found that covers such a range of historic and political issues related to the US-Mexico border, in less than 300 pages. Excellent resources for topics to cover in classes about the border region.