About the book
At the end of the Mexican Revolution in 1920, Mexico’s large, rebellious army dominated national politics. By the 1940s, Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was led by a civilian president and claimed to have depoliticized the army and achieved the bloodless pacification of the Mexican countryside through land reform, schooling, and indigenismo. However, historian Thomas Rath argues, Mexico’s celebrated demilitarization was more protracted, conflict-ridden, and incomplete than most accounts assume. Civilian governments deployed troops as a police force, often aimed at political suppression, while officers meddled in provincial politics, engaged in corruption, and crafted official history, all against a backdrop of sustained popular protest and debate.
Using newly available materials from military, intelligence, and diplomatic archives, Rath weaves together an analysis of national and regional politics, military education, conscription, veteran policy, and popular protest. In doing so, he challenges dominant interpretations of successful, top-down demilitarization and questions the image of the post-1940 PRI regime as strong, stable, and legitimate. Rath also shows how the army’s suppression of students and guerrillas in the 1960s and 1970s and the more recent militarization of policing have long roots in Mexican history.
Editions of Myths of Demilitarization in Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1920-1960
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807839287
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807839294
- EBook
- ISBN 9798893130638
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469608365
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469608358
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890844507
Read an Excerpt
At the end of the Mexican Revolution in 1920, Mexico’s large, rebellious army dominated national politics. By the 1940s, Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was led by a civilian president and claimed to have depoliticized the army and achieved the bloodless pacification of the Mexican countryside through land reform, schooling, and indigenismo. However, historian Thomas Rath argues, Mexico’s celebrated demilitarization was more protracted, conflict-ridden, and incomplete than most accounts assume. Civilian governments deployed troops as a police force, often aimed at political suppression, while officers meddled in provincial politics, engaged in corruption, and crafted official history, all against a backdrop of sustained popular protest and debate.
Using newly available materials from military, intelligence, and diplomatic archives, Rath weaves together an analysis of national and regional politics, military education, conscription, veteran policy, and popular protest. In doing so, he challenges dominant interpretations of successful, top-down demilitarization and questions the image of the post-1940 PRI regime as strong, stable, and legitimate. Rath also shows how the army’s suppression of students and guerrillas in the 1960s and 1970s and the more recent militarization of policing have long roots in Mexican history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Myths of Demilitarization in Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1920-1960 about?
At the end of the Mexican Revolution in 1920, Mexico’s large, rebellious army dominated national politics. By the 1940s, Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was led by a civilian president and claimed to have depoliticized the army and achieved the bloodless pacification of the Mexican countryside through land reform, schooling, and indigenismo. However, historian Thomas Rath argues, Mexico’s celebrated demilitarization was more protracted, conflict-ridden, and incomplete than most accounts assume. Civilian governments deployed troops as a police force, often aimed at political suppression, while officers meddled in provincial politics, engaged in corruption, and crafted official history, all against a backdrop of sustained popular protest and debate.
Using newly available materials from military, intelligence, and diplomatic archives, Rath weaves together an analysis of national and regional politics, military education, conscription, veteran policy, and popular protest. In doing so, he challenges dominant interpretations of successful, top-down demilitarization and questions the image of the post-1940 PRI regime as strong, stable, and legitimate. Rath also shows how the army’s suppression of students and guerrillas in the 1960s and 1970s and the more recent militarization of policing have long roots in Mexican history.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Myths of Demilitarization in Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1920-1960?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Myths of Demilitarization in Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1920-1960?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807839287
How long is Myths of Demilitarization in Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1920-1960 and how many pages does it have?
Myths of Demilitarization in Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1920-1960 has 256 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Myths of Demilitarization in Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1920-1960?
Thomas Rath
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Myths of Demilitarization in Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1920-1960 is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807839287) and paperback(ISBN 9780807839294) and ebook(ISBN 9798893130638) and ebook(ISBN 9781469608365) and ebook(ISBN 9781469608358) and pdf(ISBN 9798890844507)
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Where can I buy Myths of Demilitarization in Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1920-1960?