Middle Eastern immigration to Mexico is one of the intriguing, untold stories in the history of both regions. In So Far from Allah, So Close to Mexico, Theresa Alfaro-Velcamp presents the fascinating findings of her extensive fieldwork in Mexico as well as in Lebanon and Syria, which included comprehensive data collection from more than 8,000 original immigration cards as well as studies of decades of legal publications and the collection of historiographies from descendents of Middle Eastern immigrants living in Mexico today. Adding an important chapter to studies of the Arab diaspora, Alfaro-Velcamp's study shows that political instability in both Mexico and the Middle East kept many from fulfilling their dreams of returning to their countries of origin after realizing wealth in Mexico, in a few cases drawing on an imagined Phoenician past to create a class of economically powerful Lebanese Mexicans. She also explores the repercussions of xenophobia in Mexico, the effect of religious differences, and the impact of key events such as the Mexican Revolution. Challenging the post-revolutionary definitions of mexicanidad and exposing new aspects of the often contradictory attitudes of Mexicans toward foreigners, So Far from Allah, So Close to Mexico should spark timely dialogues regarding race and ethnicity, and the essence of Mexican citizenship.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
University of Texas Press
ISBN-13
9780292716414
eBay Product ID (ePID)
94865576
Product Key Features
Author
Theresa Alfaro-Velcamp
Publication Name
So Far from Allah, So Close to Mexico: Middle Eastern Immigrants in Modern Mexico
Format
Paperback
Language
English
Subject
History
Publication Year
2007
Type
Textbook
Number of Pages
286 Pages
Dimensions
Item Height
229mm
Item Width
152mm
Additional Product Features
Title_Author
Theresa Alfaro-Velcamp
Country/Region of Manufacture
United States
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