Corn Liberalization in Mexico: The Effects of Neoliberal Policies on Campesino Food Security

Date of Award

5-29-2012

Document Type

Undergraduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

Master of Liberal Studies

Organizational Unit

University College, Global Community Engagement

Disciplines

Global Affairs

First Advisor

Tripp Baltz

Keywords

Neoliberalism, Peasantry, Production relations, Agribusiness, Trade relations, Free markets, Comparative advantage, Accumulation, Speculation

Abstract

Mexico has a long history of structuralized violence against its most vulnerable socioeconomic strata, the peasantry, also referred to as Campesinos. From the Spanish invasion, to the contemporary neoliberal development project, corn production has been intimately associated with disparate power relations both within Mexican society, and without, particularly in relations with the United States. This study sheds light on the incongruities of modernism implicit within neoliberal policy instruments such as Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) and free trade agreements. It will demonstrate that while such policies benefit some, they principally exacerbate existing power disparities via disarticulated trade economics, subordinating rather than liberating Mexico's most vulnerable citizenry.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

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