On The Rim Of Mexico: Encounters Of The Rich And Poor [Hardcover]

Ramon Eduardo Ruiz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 1998

The vast stretch of mostly arid lands and deserts that makes up the border between Mexico and the United States is not only one of the longest international boundaries in the world, setting apart two entirely different countries for more than two thousand miles, it is the backdrop for a seemingly endless series of major binational news stories. Witness the headline-grabbing attention garnered by NAFTA and the global economy; the assembly plants labeled saviors of the Mexican poor; the accounts applauding the capture of Mexican drug lords; and the columns upon columns devoted to stories about illegal immigration. Nowhere else does a poor, Third World country, like Mexico, share a common border with a wealthy, powerful neighbor del otro lado (on the other side). Here, as one goes, so goes the other.On the Rim of Mexico: Encounters of the Rich and Poor addresses the ties and asymmetries across the Mexico-U.S. border, from Tijuana/San Diego to Matamoros/Brownsville. Based on author Ramón Eduardo Ruiz’s extensive research, travels, remembrances, and first-hand interviews with the people on the Mexican side, the book probes the history, economics, and customs which have shaped this region today. While the author considers many timely issues (the impact of drug trafficking, legal and illegal immigration, assembly plants and the global economy, and the ecological disaster in the making), the book is also an examination of the borderlands themselves: what they are, how they came to be, and salient aspects of life in this region of the world. Moreover, it is an exploration of binational themes. For Mexicans who live and die next door to the almighty Uncle Sam, nearly everything has a binational ring—even personal identity. On the Rim of Mexico is a moving portrait of the people, places, and issues which make-up border life today.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Most border studies deal primarily with current economic and political issues. Ruiz, a respected historian of Mexican history and professor emeritus of Latin American history at the University of California at San Diego, instead brings the current political and economic situation into historical perspective while focusing on the Mexican side of the border. Combining history and current events, the author provides an understanding and approach to the borderlands region not found in other volumes. Issues of current interest are examined, such as immigration, the economy (e.g., the effects of the recent NAFTA agreement), and ecology, among others. The book is academic but has a warmth and character resulting from the author's years of experience living in and studying the dual worlds along the border. Of value to academic libraries and public libraries in the Southwest.?Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Ramón Eduardo Ruiz is professor emeritus of Latin American history at the University of California at San Diego. In 1998, President Clinton conferred upon Professor Ruiz the National Humanities Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (September 10, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813334993
• ISBN-13: 978-0813334998
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,071,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable analysis about life on the Mexican-U.S border., June 16, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (L.A., California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On The Rim Of Mexico: Encounters Of The Rich And Poor (Hardcover)

Ramon E. Ruiz dispells many of the myhs about life on the Mexican-U.S. border. The chapters are devoted to contrasting the life that exist on the each side of the border. Each chapter is well written and his use of economic analysis is used cleverly to set up countless examples about the cultures that exist along the border. Ruiz writes an essential analysis in the study of Mexican-United States relations. A must read.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well researched, yet biased analysis, March 28, 2001

By 

El Rey (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On The Rim Of Mexico: Encounters Of The Rich And Poor (Paperback)

Mr. Ruiz has obviously spent a great deal of time and effort in researching this book. His in-depth yet easy to read analysis is very impressive. However, his inability to be objective is very disappointing. It seems that the author had a very biased opinion when starting this book. There are many problems in the border region and Mr. Ruiz does an excellent job of identifying and explaining these problems and challenges. On the other hand, this writer never tells us much about the other side of the story. For example, he mentions that Tijuana has a large middle class, yet only wants to focus on and analyze the negatives of the "maquila" industry. It seems that his interviews with Mexicans are only used to prove his point. Contrary points of view are not fully examined or are simply discounted. There are many other examples of this "telling half the story" throughout the book. I think it might do Mr. Ruiz some good to study the economic theory of comparative advantage. Mr. Ruiz is an excellent writer; I hope his next project will not be as lopsided.