Abstract

ROBICHAUX, David. The closed corporate community in post-indigenous Mexico: deindianization and the fate of the former “republics of Indians” in the 21st century. Runa [online]. 2024, vol.45, n.1, pp.19-40.  Epub Feb 01, 2024. ISSN 1851-9628.  http://dx.doi.org/10.34096/runa.v45i1.14262.

I propose to analyze a particular type of community to which tens of millions of Mexicans belong whose ancestors, from one or several generations ago, spoke indigenous languages. The type of population, one could say, to whom the acculturation or de-Indianization policies, conceived in nineteenth century Mexico and deployed in the twentieth century in order to forge a Mexican nationality, were directed. These people live in, or maintain formal ties with, their communities of origin, which during the Viceroyalty had the legal status of “republics of Indians”. Despite profound economic and educational changes - in addition to the predictions of various strands of modernization theories - rather than disappearing, these communities remain strong and are essential components in understanding Mexican social formation today.

Keywords : Close corporate community; Post-indigenous Mexico; deindianization; Former “republics of Indians”; Antigas repúblicas de índios.

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