- Library Home /
- Search Collections /
- Open Collections /
- Browse Collections /
- UBC Theses and Dissertations /
- Indians and Indianism in revolutionary Mexico
Open Collections
UBC Theses and Dissertations
UBC Theses and Dissertations
Indians and Indianism in revolutionary Mexico Rogers, Peter
Abstract
Although the mass participation of Mexican Indians in the Revolution of 1910-1920 is universally recognized, recent scholarship has tended to downplay—even to deny outright—the ethnic specificity of their involvement: i.e., their capacity to formulate goals and pursue projects distinct from those of Ladinos (non-Indians). This essay argues, to the contrary, that the revolution was a conflict not only of class against class but of culture against culture, of aboriginal identity against European identity; and, moreover, that given Mexico's legacy of colonialism and neocolonialism it could not have been otherwise. After a brief introduction, a theoretical discussion undertakes to define Ladino and Indian ethnic groups as historical products of the colonizing process and the indigenous response to that process. The two main strands of Indianist ideology—elite and peasant Indianism—are likewise derived, it is argued, from the history of domination and resistance which followed upon the Spanish conquest. Historical sketches of these opposing ideological currents are then provided as background to the study of Indians and Indianism in the Mexican Revolution, which follows in sections V, VI, and VII (pp. 19-37). While Indians throughout Mexico participated in the Revolution, this essay focuses on the most prominent instance of peasant Indianism in the twentieth century, the movement led by Emiliano Zapata. The widespread perception of Zapata as an Indian and of Zapatismo as a species of Indianism is demonstrated in a review of contemporary accounts; and the accuracy of that perception is confirmed by analyzing the discourse of two prominent Zapatista ideologues, Paulino Martinez and Antonio Diaz Soto y Gama. Finally, the character of Zapatismo as an Indian—more specifically a Nahua—revolution is investigated at the grassroots level, in a study of oral literature and other ethnohistorical materials reflecting the viewpoint of the peasant Zapatistas themselves.
Item Metadata
Title |
Indians and Indianism in revolutionary Mexico
|
Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
|
Date Issued |
1995
|
Description |
Although the mass participation of Mexican Indians in the Revolution of 1910-1920 is universally recognized,
recent scholarship has tended to downplay—even to deny outright—the ethnic specificity of their involvement: i.e.,
their capacity to formulate goals and pursue projects distinct from those of Ladinos (non-Indians). This essay argues,
to the contrary, that the revolution was a conflict not only of class against class but of culture against culture, of
aboriginal identity against European identity; and, moreover, that given Mexico's legacy of colonialism and
neocolonialism it could not have been otherwise.
After a brief introduction, a theoretical discussion undertakes to define Ladino and Indian ethnic groups as
historical products of the colonizing process and the indigenous response to that process. The two main strands of
Indianist ideology—elite and peasant Indianism—are likewise derived, it is argued, from the history of domination
and resistance which followed upon the Spanish conquest. Historical sketches of these opposing ideological currents
are then provided as background to the study of Indians and Indianism in the Mexican Revolution, which follows in
sections V, VI, and VII (pp. 19-37).
While Indians throughout Mexico participated in the Revolution, this essay focuses on the most prominent
instance of peasant Indianism in the twentieth century, the movement led by Emiliano Zapata. The widespread
perception of Zapata as an Indian and of Zapatismo as a species of Indianism is demonstrated in a review of
contemporary accounts; and the accuracy of that perception is confirmed by analyzing the discourse of two prominent
Zapatista ideologues, Paulino Martinez and Antonio Diaz Soto y Gama. Finally, the character of Zapatismo as an
Indian—more specifically a Nahua—revolution is investigated at the grassroots level, in a study of oral literature and
other ethnohistorical materials reflecting the viewpoint of the peasant Zapatistas themselves.
|
Extent |
8646284 bytes
|
Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
|
Language |
eng
|
Date Available |
2009-02-10
|
Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
|
Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
|
DOI |
10.14288/1.0087106
|
URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
|
Graduation Date |
1995-11
|
Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
|
Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
|
Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.