Electrifying Mexico: Technology and the Transformation of a Modern City

Diana J. Montano's book "Electrifying Mexico" explores the role of electricity in Mexico's economic and political evolution, focusing on its impact on society, inventions, adaptations, and issues of gender, race, and class. It won the Alfred B. Thomas Book Award and Best Book in Non-North American Urban History from the Urban History Association.

Format: Hardback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2021
Publisher: University of Texas Press

Winner of the prestigious Alfred B. Thomas Book Award, presented by the Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies (SECOLAS), in 2022, Electrifying Mexico stands as a groundbreaking work in the field of non-North American urban history. This captivating book has also been recognized as the Best Book in Non-North American Urban History by the Urban History Association, further solidifying its significance.

The 1886 Electricity Exposition in Mexico City left a lasting impression on countless visitors, showcasing a remarkable blend of technological marvels and political messaging. President Porfirio Diaz, hailed for his vision of a modern order, was celebrated for his role in fostering such progress.

In her profound exploration, Diana J. Montano delves into the intricate relationship between electricity and Mexico's economic and political development. As a coal-deficient nation, Mexico embarked on a pioneering journey, harnessing the power of hydroelectricity on a massive scale to transform its economy and assert its global presence. Montano's focus, however, extends beyond the technological realm to encompass the social dimensions of electrification. She sheds light on the ways in which ordinary electricity users became agents of change, actively shaping new ideas about time, space, the body, and the self. Moreover, electricity played a distinctive role in shaping issues of gender, race, and class in Mexico, contributing to the formation of a unique modernist political subjectivity that resonated within the nation.

Electrifying Mexico challenges prevailing historical narratives that portray Latin Americans as mere recipients of technologies developed elsewhere. Instead, it emphasizes the distinct national culture of scientific progress and its profound contributions to the development of a uniquely Mexican modernist political consciousness. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Montano unveils the intricate connections between electricity, society, and politics, providing a rich and multifaceted perspective on the nation's historical trajectory.

This award-winning book is a must-read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay between technology, society, and politics in the modern world. Electrifying Mexico offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of Mexico's past and present, shedding light on the ways in which electricity has shaped the nation's identity and contributed to its remarkable journey toward modernity.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 41 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781477323458