Land, Ejido, and Mexican city: Some Remarks to Understand their Relationship

Abstract

In post-Revolutionary Mexico, two issues became pervasive: municipality and agrarianism. While municipality was the basis for the territorial and administrative division of the country, the thirties of the past century saw the beginning of the agricultural distribution based on the common land (Ejido) formula. However, the particularities of its legal framework led to the confrontation between both institutions, enabling the founding of parallel governments and authorities. Although contradictions were present from the outset, it was the establishment of urban planning for the country in the sixties which exacerbated the fight for the control and administration of the land. After almost four decades of coexistence and despite the reforms and amnds in their legal frameworks, both instances continue to be incompatible, in competition and, not seldom, in collusion. From a historical hermeneutic position, this work seeks to reflect upon their implications and intends to offer further insights into their discussion and current shape.