Building a modern port: Urban space,local government and social change in Veracruz,Mexico,1872-1914.

详细信息   

• 作者：Sanchez Hidalgo Hernandez ; Dora Cecilia.
• 学历：Ph.D.
• 年：2014
• 毕业院校：The University of Chicago
• Department：History
• ISBN：9781321033854
• CBH：3627884
• Country：USA
• 语种：English
• FileSize：7877437
• Pages：448

文摘

As the dictatorial regime led by Porfirio Diaz neared its demise,railroads and ports constructed over the course of three decades connected a good part of Mexicos national territory. Within this new landscape,we know that the drive toward progress reached certain areas with greater force and left others merely on the path to development. There is also historiographical consensus that a correlation existed between regional economic growth inequality and cities capacities to erect railway terminals that articulated their respective states trade networks. Nevertheless,socio-spatial transformations within cities where modern infrastructure was constructed to streamline and regulate those networks---and what effects this had on governmental political processes---have yet to be studied. Studying this phenomenon allows us to understand a series of government-related problems that cities faced within the context of the Mexican States commercial reconfiguration as well as more specific questions regarding labor and consumer market liberalization. Deeper knowledge of city life presents a new perspective regarding the meanings and consequences of the pace of urbanization in nations where political elites promoted infrastructure construction as a pillar of economic development and growth. To analyze the impact of infrastructure construction in cities in the present essay I shall take up certain methodological aspects of urban history. Specifically,I focus on processes surrounding the struggle among distinct political and commercial power-holding groups to construct a modern port at Veracruz: 1) implementation of trade liberalization policy alongside tax reform in urban consumer markets； 2) how investment development for port infrastructure improvements modified the ports labor market and forms of commercial credit； and 3) negotiation of institutional frameworks within which private companies involved in port services would operate and how those companies devised strategies to organize the work taking place. The common thread of the present analysis is the City of Veracruzs involvement in negotiations,mediation and consensus-building with regard to construction and administration of the port---the locus from which jobs,investments and money all emerged---which occurred for three reasons. One,because the City was obliged to struggle with the effects of trade growth on the citys goods and services consumption logic,and at the same time,enforce domestic and foreign trade regulations. Two,because it played a central role in putting together political accords that guaranteed a number of labor dynamics that favored trade liberalization in Veracruz. Finally,a wealth of locally produced historical documents reveal the regions trade interests as well as conflicts between political institutions that promoted economic growth,investment and free-trade in Mexico.