The Social Geographies of Mexico

“The rich empirical case studies in this useful book provide insights into the relationships between politics, economic change, and social differences in different Mexican locales. I will recommend this book to upper-level undergraduates and graduate students planning on doing field research in Mexico, both to learn about the country and as an example of how to produce ethnographic accounts that incorporate observation and interviews.”

—Derek A. Smith, PhD, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada


“This text provides compelling points of entry for the study of social and spatial dynamics of contemporary life in Mexico. Unique for its combined geographic and thematic focus, the book is especially well suited to introductory courses. Walker’s case studies encourage collective engagement, including through classroom-friendly features like discussion questions. More experienced readers in geography or interdisciplinary studies of Mexico will also find the book stimulating, as Walker’s place-specific case studies reflect more generalized political–economic and cultural–political transformations of Mexico. Selected chapters can be used on their own (for readers thematically focused on urban dynamics, or on regional processes of racialization, for example), but the book also rewards being read from beginning to end.”

—Nicholas Jon Crane, PhD, School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International Studies, University of Wyoming


“This compelling and timely text explores how identity and geography shape one another across Mexico's diverse landscapes. Through richly detailed case studies and a mix of ethnographic and archival methods, Walker unpacks the complex interrelations of society, space, and place. From Indigenous histories to neoliberal transformations, this book captures the local cultural and social responses to global structural forces. A valuable resource for students and scholars alike, it offers a nuanced introduction to Mexico’s geography, politics, and identity through the critical lens of social geography.”

—Mark Overmyer-Velázquez, PhD, Dean and Chief Administrative Officer, and Professor of History and Latino Studies, University of Connecticut–Hartford