Customer Reviews

Zapotec Renaissance: Ethnic Politics and Cultural Revivalism in Southern Mexico

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Book Review: ZAPOTEC RENAISSANCE,
By Howard Campbell
University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, NM 1994

The Isthmus of Tehuantepec often appears out of sync with the rest of Mexico. Its fiercely independent nature, the place of women, its own attitudes of gender and sexuality with an intense distrust of outsiders, set it apart from the rest of the country. For this reason, historians and anthropologists have swarmed to that area. In the process, a plethora of books and articles have been written about the Isthmus, especially the City of Juchitán.

For the casual reader and would-be tourist, finding the right book about the Isthmus presents a dilemma. The vast majority of resources about the area are historical or anthropological treatises. Most of these are written in a highly academic style. This technical writing doesn't fail to attract other historians and anthropologists. But it may turn off the average reader. Wading through the sometimes highly technical, academic writing can be a chore. Therefore, non-anthropologists and non-historians may be unlikely to read such books.

Howard Campbell's "Zapotec Renaissance" is a welcome relief from the above. While rich in annotations with a long bibliography, this textbook can hold the interest of the casual reader. Although it too has a strong academic flavor, "Zapotec Renaissance" is more likely to hold one's attention for being more reader friendly than most.

The author is fascinated with COCEI, a purely local Socialist movement of the late 20th century. Against all odds, COCEI (Worker, Farmer, Student Coalition of the Isthmus), came to power in the City of Juchitán in 1981. This Isthmus city then became the first jurisdiction in all of Mexico with a leftist government since the Revolution (1910-1921).

Campbell traces the Zapotecs back to the earliest known migrations of these people in the 14th century. He relates well how historical events of long ago affect and even lead up to the eventual emergence of COCEI as a political force. He maintains that "COCEI's ethnic politics is . . . the effort of marginal groups within Juchitán to wrest power from local elites through claims to ethnic authenticity. COCEI's politicized cultural revival . . . is a rethinking of the ethnic past and a creation of new cultural forms and meanings in the present situation of conflict and change." (Page xix) Campbell goes into much detail over "the ethnic past." This includes a retelling of the conquest in the Isthmus, the savage brutality of the Spaniards' rule, the war for independence, the French intervention, the revolution, and 20th century politics. The author singles out for special treatment a number of individuals who emerged as leaders via their personification of Zapotec values. The work climaxes with the coming to power of the COCEI in Juchitán following bitter struggles to overcome the long-time ruling party that held Mexico in its grip since 1929. But the story doesn't end here, as COCEI had to struggle mightily just to stay in power, not to mention its bringing about a host of needed reforms.

Zapotec Renaissance is a masterful tale of the prodigious tenacity of an indigenous populous coming to power following centuries of unbridled exploitation.

Bruce Stores has lived in Mexico since 1995, currently residing in the city of Oaxaca. He is author of the historical fiction book, "THE ISTHMUS: Stories from Mexico's Past, 1495 to 1995", iUniverse 2009.