Mexico – Global Political Theory

Regeneración

Published May 1, 2022 by Amy Weitzman

Regeneración (1900–1918) was an inflammatory anti-capitalist newspaper founded by the Magón brothers in response to Mexico’s military dictatorship under Porfirio Díaz. It began more reformist than revolutionary to appeal to a wider crowd; however, it gradually grew revolutionary as the Mexican Revolution took off. The articles covered government corruption, violent repression, the institution of indigenous slavery, and specific officials’ injustices. Daily political cartoons were also a hallmark.

As the Liberal Party formed, Regeneración became an important outlet to voice political platforms and inform the people of government corruption. It primarily advocated against capitalism, clericalism, restriction of free speech and press, and occasionally the existence of authority as a whole. Many of its articles addressed the proletariat directly to call them to action or bring awareness to their situation. The newspaper met its end when Magón was finally convicted under the U.S. Espionage Act.

FURTHER READING

Magón Flores Ricardo, Chaz Bufe, and Mitchell Cowen Verter. Dreams of Freedom: A Ricardo Flores Magón Reader. Oakland, CA: AK Press, 2005.

‌Magón, Flores Ricardo. Regeneracion Newspaper. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA. https://californiarevealed.org/islandora/object/cavpp%3Anp-reg

Archivomagon.net. “Archivo Digital de Ricardo Flores Magón | Archivo Digital Del Trabajo Histórico de Ricardo Flores Magón,” 2021. http://archivomagon.net/.

The Mexican Revolution

Published May 1, 2022 by Amy Weitzman

The Mexican Revolution (1910–1920) was a working class uprising aimed at overthrowing the military dictatorship under Porfirio Díaz. It successfully ousted Díaz but led to further political strife when moderate liberal Francisco Madero replaced him. The culmination of economic tension surrounding workers’ rights and agrarian reform led to its incitement. The revolution was both a political and social upheaval, and produced competing ideologies.

Mexican Insurrectionists in Juarez, 1911

Among the ideologies to emerge from the Mexican Revolution were the Progressive Constitutionalist Party and the Mexican Liberal Party (PLM). The Constitutionalist Party was largely composed of the middle class whose beliefs aimed to be non-partisan, such as nationalization of land. Moderate liberal Madero identified as a Constitutionalist. As a result of his Constitutionalist policies, which were too radical for conservatives and too conservative for radicals, Madero’s presidency did not last long. As an opposition party, the PLM demanded more representation of workers in government as well as greater land reform. Furthermore, they criticized Madero’s relationship with the Catholic Church. In the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution, these parties further polarized with the absence of a common enemy.

FURTHER READING

Ph.D, Chris Frazer. Competing Voices from the Mexican Revolution: Fighting Words. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood, 2009.

Wasserman, Mark. The Mexican Revolution: A Brief History with Documents. (Bedford Cultural Editions Series) first edition, 2012.

Robert C. Overfelt, “Mexican Revolution,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed June 02, 2022, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/mexican-revolution.

Ricardo Flores Magón

Published April 30, 2022 by Amy Weitzman

Ricardo Flores MAGÓN (1874–1922) was an indigenous Mexican anarchocommunist whose activism helped lead to the Mexican Revolution. He was born during the military dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz, the porfiriato, which greatly shaped his career. He and his two brothers founded Regeneración, a newspaper meant to unveil the injustices under the porfiriato. Magón independently authored countless articles and stories about anarchism as a solution to the ills of capitalism.

Magón’s writing often used fiction to illustrate anti-capitalist uprisings and ended with vehement calls to action. Not only did he support an uprising, but he more generally supported workers’ rights, elimination of private property, and anti-clericalism. He questioned the need for government entirely; however, he described his radically anarchocommunist works as liberal to gain wider approval. Magón’s popularity prompted the formation of a radical political party to oust the porfiriato—the Mexican Liberal Party (PLM). The PLM initiated several uprisings. Although Díaz was ousted and replaced with a liberal, Magón still expressed doubts. He believed that only the workers themselves could obtain workers’ rights.

FURTHER READING

“A world without borders” in New York, 2006

Magón Flores Ricardo, Chaz Bufe, and Mitchell Cowen Verter. Dreams of Freedom: A Ricardo Flores Magón Reader. Oakland, CA: AK Press, 2005.

Magon, Ricardo Flores. “Government?” The Anarchist Library, August 4, 2020. https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/ricardo-flores-magon-government.

Magon, Ricardo Flores. “Land and Liberty.” The Anarchist Library, June 14, 2018. https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/anarchist-communist-group-land-and-liberty.

Archivomagon.net. “Archivo Digital de Ricardo Flores Magón | Archivo Digital Del Trabajo Histórico de Ricardo Flores Magón,” 2021. http://archivomagon.net/.

Tag: Mexico

Regeneración

The Mexican Revolution

Ricardo Flores Magón