Mexico’s Revolution Then and Now

by James D. Cockcroft

Written to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the first predominantly anti-capitalist revolution in the world, Mexico’s Revolution Then and Now is the perfect introductory text and one that will also sharpen the understanding of seasoned observers. Cockcroft provides readers with the historical context within which the revolution occurred; explains how the revolutionary process has played out over the past ten decades; tells us how the ideals of the revolution live on in the minds of Mexico’s peasants and workers; and critically examines the contours of modern Mexican society, including its ethnic and gender dimensions. Well-deserved attention is paid to the tensions between the rulers and the ruled inside the country and the connected tensions between the Mexican nation and the neighboring giant to the north.
Mexico’s Revolution Then and Now also explores the possibility of Mexico’s revolutionary history finally bearing the fruit long hoped for by the country’s disenfranchised—a prospect kept alive by the unyieldingstruggle of the last one hundred years. This is the definitive introduction to one of the most important events of the twentieth century.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Historian, sociologist, political analyst, poet, and bilingual award-winning author of 50 books on Latin America, Latinos, US hidden history, culture, migration, and human rights. He was politically active from anti - VietNam war movement in the 60s and 70s, human rights activism in opposition to the shah in Iran, to solidarity movements with the struggles in various countries in Central and Latin America, especially Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela.

Reviews

[Vic u · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I love the concept of this book and it was generally a very informative read but the author was trying to talk about wayyyy too much in such a short book.

Using a historical materialism approach, the author examines the last 100 years of Mexican society in comparison to the 1910 revolution and the ongoing revolution for justice and equality. Trying to analyze the history, politics, culture of these 100 years in only 140 pages made the book feel very rushed and failed to explain many concepts in depth. Each paragraph seemed to jump to very different themes without much background.

Regardless, the enemies of imperialism and capitalism in the fight for Mexican self determination is clearly captured. While I do not agree with the author’s solution of a “libertarian socialism “ approach, his arguments are well thought out and based in the material conditions of the Mexican people. Overall learned a lot and will recommend for anyone wanting to understand the revolutionary history of Mexico.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating subject, poorly written book.

[Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awesome volume that is totally relevant!

[Geoffy Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a poor attempt by Cockcroft to insert modern anarchist historiography into the very limited Marxist economic determinism of his other works. This book reads like one long run on sentence, not really making a meaningful point (Other than how awesome Cockcroft's preferred version of socialism is) and never really living up to the title. Although Cockcroft is often correct is his analysis of specific events of the last 30 years in Mexico, like the neoliberal turn, his Marxist analysis of history as the history of class struggle is a red herring which obscures any larger point that he is trying to make. By using this entirely inadequate approach to modern Mexican History, Cockcroft crafts a spastic narrative that never really draws any meaningful comparisons between the events of the Revolution and the contemporary and never even comes close to a clear point. This book reads like an added chapter to a major work, as a tacked on reflection of half listened to criticism.

This work further demonstrates the growing ineptitude of the aged and feeble ideas of Marxist revisionist analysis of modern Mexico, and cements Cockcroft's role as a farcical commentator using an ill suited orthodoxy out of stubborn habit.

Not excellent at all

[Juhyundred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a good enough book but not really a good book? Can't quite explain it. Just left a lot to be desired.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extreme focus on the "and Now" part, to the point that we learn very little about the Mexican Revolution at all.