2010: The Year of Nationalism

This fall has been an interesting one for Mexicans who on September 16th celebrated the 200th anniversary of their independence from Spain, and on November 20th celebrated the 100th anniversary of their revolution. The surge of patriotic nationalism is apparent by the number of flags and décor seen all around. The government has been celebrating and promoting the independence bicentennial since the beginning of 2010. Casual observers will see billboards, radio, and TV announcements, special commemorative coinage, state-sponsored celebrations, and a host of other celebratory activities.

For Americans, it is initially difficult to grasp the idea of an independence apart from a revolution, since our Revolutionary War was for independence from England. America’s ideals of liberty and freedom sustained its war for independence, and were in a way, further refined by its own Civil War over states’ rights and slavery. Mexico’s independence from Spain did not have a similar uniting or resolving result. The Mexican War of Independence had more social and political objectives than it did surviving heroes. While independence from Spain was a uniting call among the independence fighters, the economic and social unrest between the wealthy, European-descended class, and the largely indigenous poor class broiled. Unfortunately, the war for independence left this social strife largely unresolved.

100 years later, the Mexican Revolutionary War was really a 10 year series of civil wars and insurgencies between competing factions each representing particular needs and issues important to their particular leader or their originating region. This terribly bloody and tumultuous time in Mexican history had more reversals, power grabs, intrigue, and betrayals than the best Hollywood script could include and still remain credible. There were no less than 11 official heads of state during this 10 year period – many of them assassinated. Indeed the general loss of life was horrific – 10% of the population had died in the 10 years of war and the census of 1920 counted one million less than it did a decade before.

The result of the revolution was a single-party political rule that continued until 2000, when President Fox was elected. While social reforms have made some impact, corruption, currency devaluations, and failed public policies have thwarted best intentions for the social goals of the revolution. The revolution resulted in 50% of Mexico’s land to be re-distributed from the wealthy to its poorer citizens, yet today 60% of Mexicans are poor. Mexico today is still unable to adequately feed, educate, and protect its citizens. These are tomorrow’s problems, but for today, Mexicans celebrate the Revolution and hope for the future.