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ORIGINALLY RELEASED Jun 21, 2020 In this episode, we explore the Haitian Revolution—the only successful slave revolt in history and a landmark event in the global struggle against colonialism and white supremacy. From the brutal plantation economy of Saint-Domingue to the rise of revolutionary leaders like Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, we trace how enslaved Africans overthrew French rule and declared the world's first Black republic. We also examine how this radical uprising shook the foundations of empire, inspired abolitionist movements, and remains a crucial—yet often erased—chapter in revolutionary history. Alexander Aviña is an associate professor of Latin American history in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University. His book, "Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside" , was awarded the Maria Elena Martínez Book Prize in Mexican History for 2015 by the Conference on Latin American History. ---------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Rev Left Radio HERE Outro Beat Prod. by flip da hood
This week, Roqayah and Kumars are joined for the hour by Alexander Aviña, an expert on Mexican history and US imperialism in Latin America and the Caribbean. He is Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University, contributor to the newsletter Foreign Exchanges on Substack, and author of Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. Alex shares his perspective on how the second Trump administration has actually changed immigration policy and enforcement, the Democrats' legacy of border militarization, the high-profile detentions of Mahmoud Khalil and others, Dr. Phil's deportation ride-along, the Marxist case for “open borders”, and the effectiveness of recent popular mobilizations against ICE. Follow Alex on Twitter @Alexander_Avina and stay abreast of his latest analysis at foreignexchanges.news. If you want to support the show and receive access to tons of bonus content, including Roqayah's new weekly column “Last Week in Lebanon,” you can subscribe on our Patreon for as little as $5 a month. Also, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show on Apple Podcasts. We can't do this show without your support!!!
Alexander Aviña, associate professor of history at Arizona State University, and journalist Emily Tamkin join Danny and Derek for a final look at what Joe Biden leaves as his legacy, impressions of Trump's inauguration, and the current state of American politics as the executive branch makes this transition. Topics include the Democrats and what they believe in 2025 (if anything), discourse around immigration and the border, the multiracial coalition that brought Trump back to power, Musk's antics and the state of American Jewish politics, Trump's first executive orders, and more. Subscribe now for the full episode! Listen to our "Lessons of Guerrero" series with Alex, which largely covers his book Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. Check out Emily's books Bad Jews: A History of American Jewish Politics and Identities and The Influence of Soros: Politics, Power, and the Struggle for an Open Society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of Guerrilla History, we have an informal discussion with our friend and comrade Alex Aviña about the dangers of dogmatism when reading history, and much more! We love these slightly more theoretical conversations, and we know many of you do too. This one fits very well with many of the Sources and Methods episodes we have released, so be sure to check those previous episodes out if you are new to the show! Alexander Aviña is associate professor of Latin American history at Arizona State University and author of Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. Alex's website is available at alexanderavina.com, and he can be followed on twitter @Alexander_Avina Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
Take a ride on the electoral rollercoaster--and how it impacts the border and U.S.-Mexico relations--with one of the most insightful historians out there. It's been a while, Border Chronicle readers and listeners. Since we took our annual July break, the U.S. political landscape has shifted considerably. At least partly because of this, we will take a ride here with historian Alexander Aviña through the electoral landscape, not only the forthcoming U.S. elections post-Trump assassination attempt and Kamala Harris candidacy, but the historic election of Claudia Sheinbaum in June, Mexico's first female president and a climate scientist to boot. Aviña is a professor at Arizona State University, where he specializes in Mexico's social and political history. His current research focuses on the political economy of drug wars and state violence in Mexico in the 1960s and 1970s. And he has written a book titled Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside (Oxford University Press, 2014). In the conversation, we hit on a lot of points, on Kamala Harris's positions, particularly on the border, the root causes of migration, and what they are (including, in Aviña's analysis, the historic context of U.S. military and economic violence, especially in Central America). And we talk about what will happen in Mexico under a Sheinbaum administration, Andrés Manuel López Obrador's mixed record, especially on border and immigration enforcement, and what this means going forward for the relationship between the United States and Mexico. And finally, Aviña tells us where he finds optimism: in the transborder communities of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. The hope is to find alternatives to what Aviña calls the Children of Men scenario, referring to the 2006 film that imagines a dystopic future broiled in climate change, refugees, and intense border surveillance (among other things). You'll have to listen to see what Aviña means by this, but maybe these alternatives won't be found in the White House or Los Pinos. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/border-chronicle/support
In this episode of Guerrilla History, we end up continuing our informal and unplanned "Football" (soccer to those of you in the US and Canada) miniseries with our friend and comrade Alex Aviña! Here, we discuss some of the Palestine related goings-on in the football world, as well as give a preview and make predictions for the Copa América and European Championships, which are getting kicked off at the time of this episode being released. If you've not already heard our previous Football episodes with Alex, check out our first The Beautiful Game, plus our newer World Cup: Sport, Politics, History, & Propaganda. We are sure that even those of you who are not super football fans will get a lot of use from these discussions! Alexander Aviña is associate professor of Latin American history at Arizona State University and author of Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. Alex's website is available at alexanderavina.com, and he can be followed on twitter @Alexander_Avina Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
In this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring back the official unofficial fourth member of the hosting panel, Alexander Aviña! Here we discuss Alex's freshly released article at Foreign Exchanges titled A Future of Walls or Liberation, which examines some of the role and relationships between "Israel" and the countries and governments in Latin America. This is a really interesting piece of the Zioimperialist story, and one which is frankly very under-discussed. Tune in, learn something, and share with others who you think would also benefit from hearing this history! Alexander Aviña is associate professor of Latin American history at Arizona State University and author of Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. Alex's website is available at alexanderavina.com, and he can be followed on twitter @Alexander_Avina Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
In this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring back the official unofficial fourth member of the hosting panel, Alexander Aviña! Here we discuss Alex's freshly released article at Foreign Exchanges titled A Future of Walls or Liberation, which examines some of the role and relationships between "Israel" and the countries and governments in Latin America. This is a really interesting piece of the Zioimperialist story, and one which is frankly very under-discussed. Tune in, learn something, and share with others who you think would also benefit from hearing this history! Alexander Aviña is associate professor of Latin American history at Arizona State University and author of Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. Alex's website is available at alexanderavina.com, and he can be followed on twitter @Alexander_Avina Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
In this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring on Benjamin T. Smith and his coauthor, returning fan favorite Alexander Aviña, to talk about an article that they just cowrote about the (ongoing) Mexican Dirty War for NACLA titled A War to the Death! This short article condenses the decades history of the Mexican Dirty War in advance of an upcoming Truth Commission report on state terrorism within Cold War era Mexico. As our guests highlight though, this dirty war never really ended. A great conversation, do us a favor and send it to comrades who are interested in Cold War Latin America, Mexican history, or state sponsored dirty wars, they will certainly find this useful! Benjamin T. Smith is professor of Latin American history at the University of Warwick and author of several books, including The Dope: The Real History of the Mexican Drug Trade. Ben's website is available at thedope.co.uk, and he can be followed on twitter @benjamintsmith7 Alexander Aviña is associate professor of Latin American history at Arizona State University and author of Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. Alex's website is available at alexanderavina.com, and he can be followed on twitter @Alexander_Avina Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
ORIGINALLY RELEASED Jun 21, 2020 Alex Aviña returns to RLR to discuss the Haitian Revolution! Alexander Aviña is an associate professor of Latin American history in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University. His book, "Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside" , was awarded the Maria Elena Martínez Book Prize in Mexican History for 2015 by the Conference on Latin American History. Outro music 'Africa Hot!' by Dead Prez and DJ Green Lantern Support Rev Left Radio: https://www.patreon.com/RevLeftRadio
Ahead of closing out our Lessons of Guerrero series on Sunday, we've unlocked the second episode so you can catch up!Danny and Derek welcome back Alexander Aviña, associate professor of history at Arizona State University, to continue the discussion of his book Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. In this episode, they pick up in the 1970s and discuss President Luis Echeverría, the advent of neoliberalism in Mexico, the 1982 default, the transformation of the drug trade in the 1980s, changes in the PRI during the same era, the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, and more through the 1995 Aguas Blancas massacre.Listen to the first episode here! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe
Danny and Derek welcome back Alexander Aviña, associate professor of history at Arizona State University, for a discussion focusing on the career of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) of Mexico. They touch on his unsuccessful bids for president, the MORENA party, the current Mexican political culture, his relationship to neoliberalism, his administration's foreign policy, COVID response, and more. Check out Alexander's book Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside, the basis of an angoing AP series. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.americanprestigepod.comDanny and Derek welcome back Alexander Aviña, associate professor of history at Arizona State University, to continue the discussion of his book Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. In this episode, they pick up in the 1970s and discuss President Luis Echeverría, the advent of neoliberalism in Mexico, the 1982 default, the transformation of the drug trade in the 1980s, changes in the PRI during the same era, the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, and more through the 1995 Aguas Blancas massacre.Check out Alexander's book here! Listen to the first episode here!
Danny and Derek talk about Ukraine (0:34), the Yemen ceasefire extension (20:18), and the Colombian election (23:59). They then speak with Alexander Aviña (27:34), associate professor of history at Arizona State University, about his book Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. They discuss the background of the Mexican state of Guerrero, the Mexican Revolution and historical memory, how rural teachers formed the revolutionary vanguard of the 1960s, and the major players in the fight against the ruling PRI. Check out Alexander’s book here: https://bit.ly/3an4DBX This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe
Topics: Rudy stops by; Melania stops by; Ellen tests positive; FDA finally approves Pfizer vaccine; Biden turns back on Progressives; Burl Ives named names; The Queen, William and Kate don't wear masks Guests and Time Stamps: (2:25) Melania Trump, AKA Martha Previte (19:42) America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani AKA Robert Smigel (33:35) PM Jim Earl, Emmy and Peabody Award Winning Comedy Writer and Traitor (1:05:11) Henry Asks Professor Alex Aviña, author of "Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside" (1:38:00) Dr. Jennifer Verdolin, animal behaviorist and author of "Raised by Animals" (2:04:45) Dr. Philip Herschenfeld, Freudian psychiatrist, and his son, Actor/Comedian/Harvard Apologist Ethan (2:35:13) The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United for Separation of Church and State (3:09:30) Dave Sirus, SNL and "The King Of Staten Island" (3:33:27) Professor Ben Burgis, host of "Give Them An Argument" (4:03:27) Burt Ross, American Hero, former Mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey's Energy Czar, who took on the Gambino Family and invented New Jersey's right turn on red (4:33:45) Emil Guillermo, host of the PETA Podcast and columnist for ALDEF (4:56:02) Alan Minsky, executive director of Progressive Democrats of America (5:33:28) Henry Hakamaki gives us the latest on Covid-19 For today's reading list go here: The David Feldman Show features a diverse mixture of comedians, actors, professors, comedy writers and journalists talking about your world. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MEDIA: More David @ My audio podcast drops every Tuesday and Friday at 3AM (Eastern) Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. We record the podcast every Monday and Thursday LIVE on YouTube starting at 5:00 PM (Eastern) Please subscribe to the channel to receive notifications for all special episodes we record as the week develops. Get Social With David: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davidfeldmancomedy?ref=hl Twitter: https://twitter.com/David_Feldman_ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/david-feldman-show/id321997239
Joe Biden came to debate Donald Trump but Abraham Lincoln showed up. The only thing Trump has in common with Lincoln is Lincoln was once a Whig, and Trump wears one. On today's show, a deep dive into the elections in Bolivia with Dr. Alexander Aviña, professor of history and author of "Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside" Topics: Biden and Trump square off; Did Trump look remotely presidential?; What's wrong with Rudy?; Bolivia's one year nightmare comes to an end; Will America's four year nightmare end on November 3rd?; Covid gets worse while America builds bombs; When will America admit this is an economic depression? GUESTS AND TIME CODES: (:30 ) Melania Trump (AKA Martha Previte); (10:33) David Reads The News; (15:04) Congressman Alan Grayson, author of "High Crimes: The Impeachment of Donald Trump"; (35:04) I'm On My Way written and performed by Professor Mike Steinel (38:27) Burt Ross, former mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey, American hero who took on the Gambino Family and went on to invent New Jersey's right turn on red; (1:09:34) Oh My My, written and performed by Professor Mike Steinel (1:13:22) Jeff Blackwood, Democratic strategist from the dark recesses of the Far Left; (1:42:48) The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United for Separation of Church and State; (2:12:52) Dr. Philip Herschenfeld, psychiatrist, and his son Ethan, comic/actor/singer; (2:42:24) Henry Hakamaki talks with Dr. Alexander Aviña, professor of history and author of "Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside." ; (3:57:51) Debate Mop Up With: Professor Harvey J. Kaye, Professor Adnan Husain, Professor Mary Anne Cummings, Alan Minsky, executive director of Progressive Democrats of America and Emil Guillermo, journalist and host of The PETA Podcast; (5:56:56 ) Professor Ben Burgis, host of "Give Them An Argument" (6:25:11) Alright Fine, Biden written and performed by Lance Jeffries and The Covid Players who are Kathleen Ashe, Tom Webber and John Hayes. HERE'S YOUR INVITATION FOR FRIDAY'S OFFICE HOURS: You are invited to a Zoom meeting. When: Oct 23, 2020 09:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Don't forget DIABETIC FURY this Saturday with Jim Earl, Eddie Pepitone and Martha Previte!!! All proceeds go towards diabetes awareness, purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diabetic-fury-2-an-evening-of-diabetes-awareness-tickets-125779494855?aff=erelexpmlt
Topics: David holds his nose and endorses Biden; Julian Assange's extradition; Bill Barr compares lockdown to slavery; The Noble Lie; Are Incels right about women?; Biden's climate change plan isn't horrible; America's violent history in Latin America; Bloomberg blows 100 million in Florida on Biden; Michael Caputo takes a leave of his senses; ICE is sterilizing immigrants; Guests: Animal Behaviorist Dr. Jennifer Verdolin, author of “Raised By Animals"; Congressman Alan Grayson, author of “High Crimes: The Impeachment of Donald Trump"; Alan Minsky, executive director of Progressive Democrats of America, introduces us to Angelica Duenas, Democratic candidate for California's 29th Congressional District- East San Fernando Valley; Philosophy Professor Ben Burgis, author of “Myth and Mayhem: A Leftist Critique of Jordan Peterson” and host of “Give Them An Argument”; Emmy and Peabody Award Winning Jim Earl; Dr. Philip Herschenfeld, psychiatrist, and his son Comic Ethan; "Chronic Relief, A Diabetes Town Hall with your Pancreassholes" Jim Earl, Martha Previte and Immunobiologist Henry Hakamaki; Professor Harvey J. Kaye, Professor Mary Anne Cummings and Professor Adnan Husain look back at the week; Henry Hakamaki interviews Dr. Alexander Aviña, professor of history at Arizona State University and author of "Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside"; The Rev. Barry W. Lynn from Americans United for Separation of Church of State Time Code: Dr. Jennifer Verdolin (23:27) Congressman Alan Grayson (59:16) Alan Minsky and Angelica Duenas (1:29:22) Professor Ben Burgis (3:30:02) Jim Earl (4:04:22) Dr. Philip Herschenfeld and Ethan (4:21:58) Chronic Relief with Martha Previte, Jim Earl and Henry Hakamaki (5:05:35) Professor Adnan Husain, Professor Mary Anne Cummings and Professor Harvey J. Kaye (5:31:30) Henry Hakamaki talks with Dr. Aleander Avina (6:34:40) The Rev. Barry W. Lynn (7:25:58) Music: David Feldman Love Theme and Professor Harvey J. Kaye Love Theme written and performed by Professor Mike Steinel; The Rev. Barry W. Lynn Love Theme written and performed by Lance Jeffries
Mexico’s political history is one of upheaval. From the time the country declared its independence from Spain at the turn of the 19th century, to the Mexican Revolution that drove thousands of Mexicans to the U.S. in order to escape the conflict that cost over 1 million lives. Today, the power struggle continues in a new form — one of assassinations, kidnappings and drug cartels that have shaped Mexico’s recent history. Alex Aviña researches 20th century Mexico and is the author of Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside .
Alex Aviña returns to RLR to discuss the Haitian Revolution! Alexander Aviña is an associate professor of Latin American history in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University. His book, "Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside" , was awarded the Maria Elena Martínez Book Prize in Mexican History for 2015 by the Conference on Latin American History. Outro music 'Africa Hot!' by Dead Prez and DJ Green Lantern LEARN MORE ABOUT REV LEFT RADIO: www.revolutionaryleftradio.com
Alex Aviña is a professor of Latin American history in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University. His book, "Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside", was awarded the Maria Elena Martínez Book Prize in Mexican History for 2015 by the Conference on Latin American History. Alex joins Breht to discuss the Nicaraguan Revolution of 1979, the Somoza Dictatorship, the Sandinistas, the CIA and the Reagan Administration, US imperialism in Central America, the 1954 Guatemalan coup, Marxism-Leninism, National Liberation, Indigenous resistance on both sides of the revolution, and much more! Follow Alex on Twitter @Alexander_Avina Learn about, support, or contact Alex here: https://alexanderavina.com Check out the film "¡Las Sandinistas!" here: https://www.lassandinistas.com/ SUPPORT REV LEFT: https://www.revolutionaryleftradio.com/ Outro Music: "Reagan" by Killer Mike Check out his music here: http://killermike.com/ ----------- Our logo was made by BARB, a communist graphic design collective! You can find them on twitter or insta @Barbaradical. Intro music by Captain Planet. Find and support his music here: https://djcaptainplanet.bandcamp.com --------------- This podcast is affiliated with: The Nebraska Left Coalition, Omaha Tenants United, Socialist Rifle Association (SRA), Feed The People - Omaha, and the Marxist Center. Join the SRA here: https://www.socialistra.org/
In this episode of our joint podcast series with Millennial Politics on Venezuela, Brand New Congress Chief Policy Director Jordan Valerie Allen speaks with Alexander Aviña, associate professor of Latin American history in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University and author of “Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside,” to discuss the failing right-wing coup in Venezuela and the history of U.S. imperialist intervention in Latin America. (Professor Alexander Aviña is not affiliated with Brand New Congress and speaks only for himself as a guest on this podcast episode.)
Alexander Avina is an assistant professor of history at ASU. His research focuses on twentieth-century Mexico, primarily the post-1940 period. His first book, titled Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside is a political history of rural guerrilla movements led by schoolteachers that emerged in the state of Guerrero during the 1960s and 70s. His next book project explores the links between counterinsurgency, state terror, and the development of a transnational narcotics economy in the southwestern Mexican highlands in the 1960s. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on modern Latin American and Mexican history, including more specialized history courses on global capitalism, drugs and narcotics, Latin American revolutions, and the Cold War in Latin America. He sits down with Brett to discuss the Mexican Revolution, Zapatismo, the EZLN, and much more. Our Outro Music is "Brick by Brick" by Justified Aggression which you can find here: https://justifiedaggression.bandcamp.com/track/brick-by-brick Please support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RevLeftRadio and follow us on Twitter @RevLeftRadio This podcast is officially affiliated with the Nebraska Left Coalition: https://www.facebook.com/TheNebraskaLeftCoalition/ and the Omaha GDC: https://www.facebook.com/OmahaGDC/
Since September 2014, much of Mexico has been gripped by the story of the Ayotzinapa kidnappings – the mass abduction of 43 rural schoolteachers in Iguala in the state of Guerrero. The tragic disappearance of the students has raised questions about the origins, nature, and methods of terror that have seized the nation. Alexander Avina's new book, Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside (Oxford University Press, 2014), details the origins and memories of state violence during the peasant movement in Guerrero in the 1960s and 1970s. While the nation has long been heralded for its economic growth and political stability in the mid-twentieth century–the so-called Mexican Miracle– Avina reveals the deep, but overlooked, forms of everyday violence waged by the state at the local level. Using declassified military and intelligence records with oral histories of peasants, this work examines the mobilization of two peasant groups from Guerrero know as the Party of the Poor (PLDP) and the National Revolutionary Civic Association (ACNR). Behind leaders from the normales rurales (rural schools), such as Genaro Vazquez and Lucio Cabanas, Guerrero's peasants challenged the structural violence and methods of domination of national party, the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), to advocate for inclusion into the democratic process, greater access to markets, and land reform. They looked to the principles of the Mexican Revolution as they organized through direct civic participation, democratic action, and guerrilla resistance. Beyond simply chronicling this overlooked period in the nation's past, Avina illustrates that the revolutionary struggles of the peasant movement continues to be fought in the historical memory of the people of Guerrero today. This is a tremendously important work and, somewhat tragically, a timely one as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Since September 2014, much of Mexico has been gripped by the story of the Ayotzinapa kidnappings – the mass abduction of 43 rural schoolteachers in Iguala in the state of Guerrero. The tragic disappearance of the students has raised questions about the origins, nature, and methods of terror that have seized the nation. Alexander Avina’s new book, Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside (Oxford University Press, 2014), details the origins and memories of state violence during the peasant movement in Guerrero in the 1960s and 1970s. While the nation has long been heralded for its economic growth and political stability in the mid-twentieth century–the so-called Mexican Miracle– Avina reveals the deep, but overlooked, forms of everyday violence waged by the state at the local level. Using declassified military and intelligence records with oral histories of peasants, this work examines the mobilization of two peasant groups from Guerrero know as the Party of the Poor (PLDP) and the National Revolutionary Civic Association (ACNR). Behind leaders from the normales rurales (rural schools), such as Genaro Vazquez and Lucio Cabanas, Guerrero’s peasants challenged the structural violence and methods of domination of national party, the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), to advocate for inclusion into the democratic process, greater access to markets, and land reform. They looked to the principles of the Mexican Revolution as they organized through direct civic participation, democratic action, and guerrilla resistance. Beyond simply chronicling this overlooked period in the nation’s past, Avina illustrates that the revolutionary struggles of the peasant movement continues to be fought in the historical memory of the people of Guerrero today. This is a tremendously important work and, somewhat tragically, a timely one as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Since September 2014, much of Mexico has been gripped by the story of the Ayotzinapa kidnappings – the mass abduction of 43 rural schoolteachers in Iguala in the state of Guerrero. The tragic disappearance of the students has raised questions about the origins, nature, and methods of terror that have seized the nation. Alexander Avina's new book, Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside (Oxford University Press, 2014), details the origins and memories of state violence during the peasant movement in Guerrero in the 1960s and 1970s. While the nation has long been heralded for its economic growth and political stability in the mid-twentieth century–the so-called Mexican Miracle– Avina reveals the deep, but overlooked, forms of everyday violence waged by the state at the local level. Using declassified military and intelligence records with oral histories of peasants, this work examines the mobilization of two peasant groups from Guerrero know as the Party of the Poor (PLDP) and the National Revolutionary Civic Association (ACNR). Behind leaders from the normales rurales (rural schools), such as Genaro Vazquez and Lucio Cabanas, Guerrero's peasants challenged the structural violence and methods of domination of national party, the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), to advocate for inclusion into the democratic process, greater access to markets, and land reform. They looked to the principles of the Mexican Revolution as they organized through direct civic participation, democratic action, and guerrilla resistance. Beyond simply chronicling this overlooked period in the nation's past, Avina illustrates that the revolutionary struggles of the peasant movement continues to be fought in the historical memory of the people of Guerrero today. This is a tremendously important work and, somewhat tragically, a timely one as well.
Since September 2014, much of Mexico has been gripped by the story of the Ayotzinapa kidnappings – the mass abduction of 43 rural schoolteachers in Iguala in the state of Guerrero. The tragic disappearance of the students has raised questions about the origins, nature, and methods of terror that have seized the nation. Alexander Avina’s new book, Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside (Oxford University Press, 2014), details the origins and memories of state violence during the peasant movement in Guerrero in the 1960s and 1970s. While the nation has long been heralded for its economic growth and political stability in the mid-twentieth century–the so-called Mexican Miracle– Avina reveals the deep, but overlooked, forms of everyday violence waged by the state at the local level. Using declassified military and intelligence records with oral histories of peasants, this work examines the mobilization of two peasant groups from Guerrero know as the Party of the Poor (PLDP) and the National Revolutionary Civic Association (ACNR). Behind leaders from the normales rurales (rural schools), such as Genaro Vazquez and Lucio Cabanas, Guerrero’s peasants challenged the structural violence and methods of domination of national party, the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), to advocate for inclusion into the democratic process, greater access to markets, and land reform. They looked to the principles of the Mexican Revolution as they organized through direct civic participation, democratic action, and guerrilla resistance. Beyond simply chronicling this overlooked period in the nation’s past, Avina illustrates that the revolutionary struggles of the peasant movement continues to be fought in the historical memory of the people of Guerrero today. This is a tremendously important work and, somewhat tragically, a timely one as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Since September 2014, much of Mexico has been gripped by the story of the Ayotzinapa kidnappings – the mass abduction of 43 rural schoolteachers in Iguala in the state of Guerrero. The tragic disappearance of the students has raised questions about the origins, nature, and methods of terror that have seized the nation. Alexander Avina’s new book, Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside (Oxford University Press, 2014), details the origins and memories of state violence during the peasant movement in Guerrero in the 1960s and 1970s. While the nation has long been heralded for its economic growth and political stability in the mid-twentieth century–the so-called Mexican Miracle– Avina reveals the deep, but overlooked, forms of everyday violence waged by the state at the local level. Using declassified military and intelligence records with oral histories of peasants, this work examines the mobilization of two peasant groups from Guerrero know as the Party of the Poor (PLDP) and the National Revolutionary Civic Association (ACNR). Behind leaders from the normales rurales (rural schools), such as Genaro Vazquez and Lucio Cabanas, Guerrero’s peasants challenged the structural violence and methods of domination of national party, the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), to advocate for inclusion into the democratic process, greater access to markets, and land reform. They looked to the principles of the Mexican Revolution as they organized through direct civic participation, democratic action, and guerrilla resistance. Beyond simply chronicling this overlooked period in the nation’s past, Avina illustrates that the revolutionary struggles of the peasant movement continues to be fought in the historical memory of the people of Guerrero today. This is a tremendously important work and, somewhat tragically, a timely one as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices