"Mexico Profundo"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how Bonfil Batalla writes passionately about the abuses of power within Mexico in his "Mexico Profundo: Reclaiming a Civilization". It looks at how beginning with the colonization by Spain and enduring until the present, the disempowerment of the group that came to be identified as Indian has lead to an internal struggle between the imaginary Mexico and the Mexico Profundo. It explores how the misuse of power physically and psychologically has been utilized to subjugate the Mexico Profundo and to attempt to destroy what is uniquely theirs. It also shows how Batalla writes that now at the time of the collapse of the civilization project envisioned by the imaginary Mexico, an opening exists for readjusting the power balances and forging ahead with the tremendous resources available within Mexico.

From the Paper:

"Within the Mayan community of the Chamulas explored by Rosenbaum (1993), they have decided to have the elders of the community elect officials for their own council from those who have had positions on religious cargos and although the state's council has final authority the Chamula's council is able to make decisions in alignment with their value system. The Chamulas have developed a very strong cargo system and have found a way to empower themselves regarding civic politics and, thereby, have been able to feel the penetration of imaginary Mexico less than other Indian communities. Their cargo system is well structured, so although most of the people cannot afford a cargo, they can participate as assistants expanding those participating to about a thousand and, thereby, confirming the communal activity that reaffirms the Mesoamerican culture."

More papers on "Mexico Profundo":

• Business Plan # 129573 : "Armstrong in Mexico"
• Article Review # 93709 : "Education in Mexico"
• Essay # 89516 : "Air Pollution in Mexico City"

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