This blog will record some of my research into the introduction of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Mexico. It will be musings on what I uncover; such as those who propagate neoliberalism as a formula for development when in reality it lines their pockets while subjugating the rest of us to capitals desires’. Maybe a rant on Mexican politics or its interfering neighbour to the north hell bent on free trade and drug wars. I may even dive into more region-wide politics. But it will usually be related to the main themes of blog; Mexico, U.S. imperialism, the war on drugs, neoliberalism, labour struggles, crimes of the powerful, Marxist criminology and of course SEZs. Because in the end the goal is to record and put in writing ideas that will contribute to a Ph.D. in Criminology on the harms produced in the installation of SEZs into the south of Mexico.
The name “Stories of resistance” comes from two things. First, the Cuban movie “Memories of underdevelopment” which I watched about 15 years ago. It is very good, and you can buy it from all the usual suspects, but if you search enough you can also get it direct from Cuba; better than filling Amazon´s pockets. Second, ”resistance” is used as I want to report on the strategies used to fight capital as it tries subjectivise us.
About me:
I am Irish, though I moved to England as a teenager, and after 26 years there I am now based in Mexico.
I have a BA in American Studies & International Relations from Sussex University (UK)/Georgetown University (U.S.). More recently I gained an MA in Criminology titled Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) from Staffordshire University (UK) with a focus on states, international policing, and the crimes of the powerful rather than a study of narcos, drug trafficking organisations (DTOs), or other criminal gangs; though they did feature too.
While I lived in England I was involved with the Campaign against the Arms Trade and the Stop the War campaign.
More recently I served as an international election observer in Honduras with the Alliance for Global Peace for the 2013 election, and with the Red Universitaria y Ciudadana por la Democracia in Mexico for the 2018 election .
Thanks
Dave
Mexico City
July 2018
Stories of Resistance: México, neoliberalism & the war on drugs. 