Beyond Aztlan
Ethnic Autonomy in Comparative Perspective
Mario Barrera
To succeed in America, ethnic groups have historically been required to give up their distinctive cultural identity in order to achieve economic and political parity. Mexican Americans, who have scored limited gains in their struggle for equality since the 1940s, are proving to be no exception to the rule. In this provocative volume, Mario Barrera compares the situation of Mexican Americans to that of minority groups in four other countries, and concludes that equality does not necessarily require assimilation. This unique comparative study will appeal to a wide audience—especially to students and professors of sociology, ethnic studies, political science, anthropology, and American studies.
Reviews
”. . . Barrera provides a powerful statement regarding the importance of ethnic goals within a pluralistic society even when those goals may threaten the solidarity of the modern conception of the nation state. . . .” — International Migration Review
“This overview looks at Mexican-American politics since the 1940s, analyzes the aims of the Chicano Movement, and weighs the relative successes and failures both of that political force and of the larger society in accommodating it. A useful, accessible book.” — Books of the Southwest
