Dictablanda : politics, work, and culture in Mexico, 1938-1968 /

Though the history of both the Mexican Revolution and the long-running dominance of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) are well-known, the specifics of how one of the most politically inventive dramas of the early 20th century was transformed into a monolithic authoritarian institution is a little elusive. These 18 essays do a great deal to help readers conceptualize the historical process behind the change by focusing on the distinctly unromantic years between the end of Lázaro Cárdenas's presidency in 1940 and the Tlatelolco massacre of 1968. The first two sections, "High and Low Politics" and "Work and Resource Regulation," offer an explanation of how PRI dominance was built through negotiation, active politicking, and contestation. The final section, "Culture and Ideology," is more eclectic, including essays on television, anthropology, the student movement, and murder. The work is an invaluable resource for any nonspecialist seeking a rigorous and in-depth consideration of the topic. At almost 400 pages, the book will be a stretch for most undergraduates, though individual essays will prove useful. A necessary addition to any respectable collection on Latin American history or 20th-century politics. --Joshua M. Rosenthal, Western Connecticut State University