Social Change and Development, Essay 1

ESSAY #1 - SOCIAL CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA

THE ANNEXATION OF MEXICO

John Ross’s book The Annexation of Mexico, while providing historical and contemporary context for the dramatic changes that have affected Mexico, allows us to not only understand this Latin American country, but deepens our understanding of our own country and its relationship to Mexico. U.S. annexation of its neighbor to the South had historical roots and continues as an ongoing process. In answering the following questions, you should synthesize material from the textbook with lecture, class discussions, and videos. I am not interested in a book report; rather, apply your own analysis of the text and course materials. Nonetheless, your responses should reflect a careful reading of the entire text. Your essay should be approximately 7 pages in length (1" margins, 11 or 12 font); please number your responses and word process your paper using letter quality text (print the entire paper in bold if you printer does not print clearly). Essays will be graded on how well you analyze (as opposed to describe) the issues, thoroughness, and appropriate use of examples to illustrate your thoughts. This paper is worth 50 points; NO late papers will be accepted.

1. John Ross speaks of the "Annexation of Mexico" in the plural-Mexico has been subject to multiple annexations. Considering the historical relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, how well do the theories of development (modernization, dependency, world systems, etc.) apply in understanding the nature of the various annexations described by Ross? What contradictions do you discern in regard to the U.S. agenda for Mexico and the Monroe Doctrine, the Porfiriato, the Mexican revolution, and post-revolutionary Mexico? How might we best evaluate two agrarian development processes-Mexico’s agrarian reform and the Green Revolution?

2. Latin American countries share a legacy of colonialism, strong state-led economies, and dependency on the more industrialized nations as they strive for modernization. As in most Latin American countries, Mexico has shifted from a state-led economy to one based on free market principles. Contrast the more recent shift to neoliberalism (explaining, of course, what it is) with earlier ideologies and practices, using examples from throughout the text to show the impact of neoliberalism on the Mexican population. To address this issue, you should include-among other things-the debt crisis, economic restructuring, and NAFTA.

3. As Ross points out, social change in Latin America may often be disruptive, but this does not of necessity imply that people are passive victims of U.S. hegemony and/or oppressive conditions within Mexico. Using examples from the textbook and the case of Mexican sugarcane growers and workers presented in class, analyze how the "coyuntura," or emergence of resistance to annexation is related to globalization. Assess this resistance in terms of the ability of groups and social movements to effect positive change.

1.	John Ross speaks of the "Annexation of Mexico" in the plural-Mexico has been subject to multiple annexations. Considering the historical relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, how well do the theories of development (modernization, dependency, world systems, etc.) apply in understanding the nature of the various annexations described by Ross? What contradictions do you discern in regard to the U.S. agenda for Mexico and the Monroe Doctrine, the Porfiriato, the Mexican revolution, and post-revolutionary Mexico? How might we best evaluate two agrarian development processes-Mexico’s agrarian reform and the Green Revolution?
2.	Latin American countries share a legacy of colonialism, strong state-led economies, and dependency on the more industrialized nations as they strive for modernization. As in most Latin American countries, Mexico has shifted from a state-led economy to one based on free market principles. Contrast the more recent shift to neoliberalism (explaining, of course, what it is) with earlier ideologies and practices, using examples from throughout the text to show the impact of neoliberalism on the Mexican population. To address this issue, you should include-among other things-the debt crisis, economic restructuring, and NAFTA.
3.	As Ross points out, social change in Latin America may often be disruptive, but this does not of necessity imply that people are passive victims of U.S. hegemony and/or oppressive conditions within Mexico. Using examples from the textbook and the case of Mexican sugarcane growers and workers presented in class, analyze how the "coyuntura," or emergence of resistance to annexation is related to globalization. Assess this resistance in terms of the ability of groups and social movements to effect positive change.