What to read to understand Mexico
Our bureau chief chooses eight books as an introduction to a rich and troubled country
Mexicans elected Andrés Manuel López Obrador, or amlo, as president in 2018 because they wanted change. Criminal gangs control swathes of territory and violence remains at shockingly high levels. Corruption is rife. Economic growth languishes. This is despite the fact that Mexico, an emerging economy, has many things going for it, from car manufacturing to a vibrant cultural and culinary scene. So far, the president has failed to address the country’s problems since coming to office. As is to be expected, the most up-to-date books on Mexico are published in Spanish. But this selection will help English-readers understand the country’s challenges and give pointers on how it could develop.
Discover more
Books that probe the secrets of the Mossad
Seven books on Israeli intelligence agencies, which are spearheading the offensive against Hizbullah in Lebanon
An introduction to Lebanon, perhaps the next front in a wider war
Four books and a film on a pivotal Middle Eastern country
What to read about modern feminism
An introduction to a large, evolving and controversial subject
How Christianity shapes politics in America
Four books and a podcast explain a complicated relationship
What to read about the British economy
Britain used to be the world’s richest country. These six books explain how it came to be, and why it is no longer
Six novels about India, perhaps the world’s most interesting place
Works of fiction about a country whose global clout, already large, is growing