The legacy of the historic mutual aid organizing by US Mexicans; with its emphasis on self-help and community solidarity; continues to inform Mexican American activism and subtly influence a number of major US social movements. In Democratic Renewal and the Mutual Aid Legacy of US Mexicans; Julie Leininger Pycior traces the early origins of organizing in the decades following the US-Mexican War; when Mexicans in the Southwest established mutualista associations for their protection. Further; she traces the ways in which these efforts have been invoked by contemporary Latino civil rights leaders. Pycior notes that the Mexican immigrant associations instrumental in the landmark 2006 immigration reform marches echo mutualista societies at their peak in the 1920s. Then Mexican immigrants from San Diego to New York engaged in economic; medical; cultural; educational; and legal aid. This path-breaking study culminates with an examination of Southwest community organizing networks as crucial counterweights to the outsize role of large financial contributions in the democratic political process. It also finds ways in which this community organizing echoes the activity of mutualista groups in the very same neighborhoods a century ago.
#955797 in Books 2013-12-17 2013-12-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .33 x .4 x 6.46l; .80 #File Name: 1620403099400 pages
Review
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful. Excellent until page 193.By LinguistAbroadOverall I agree with Mr. Lucas; though I am sure that he - as I - could name many wonderful Russian individuals. As a system; however; I think he is probably quite accurate. I lived in Russia for several years. I agree that it is "xenophobic yet obsessed with the West." I was once on a bus in Moscow during a traffic jam; due to an accident. The babuski on board immediately blamed it on the 'chornies' - dark skinned people. I once was walking down a street when I heard a strange clinking noise. It was a group of about 200-300 skinheads adorned in chains. I know there are skinheads elsewhere in the world but I have never seen so many skinheads randomly walking down a street as if they own the place.My main beef with this book is that it should have ended at 192 pages. The author sets the stage well; historically; for the discovery and capture of the illegals. Thereafter; the author reverts into a historical treatise on all things Baltic spies. It was basically a completely different book. In fact; Deception should have been developed into 3 books: The first comprising up to and including 192. The second should be the additional historical information and facts about spies in the past as related to the Baltics and the East/West conflict (which he introduces after page 192). The third should be all about the Estonian master spy Mr; Simm (working for the Russians). It just doesn't make sense to force a separate storyline and information into the book after the climax (which was only about half way through).41 of 43 people found the following review helpful. must read for people interested in the Baltic statesBy JohnPeople who follow events in the Baltic states in English have a great source in Edward Lucas.His articles in The Economist; where he is a senior editor; have long provided a view of the Baltics and Russia that is closer to reality than the whitewashed articles in other publications. The view would be closer still if Lucas didn't fear baseless "libel" lawsuits in the UK and elsewhere.I enjoyed the insight Lucas put forth in "The New Cold War" in 2008 and was therefore happy to hear that he published this new book; "Deception;" in 2012."Deception" starts off with a description of the modern Russian state including detailed explanations of the Anna Chapman and Sergei Magnitsky situations. Lucas provides valuable analysis regarding the mentality of the agents in the Russian security services.Then; "Deception" provides a historical review of British/American/Russian/German espionage with focus on the years immediately following the 1917 Revolution and World War II. Much of the historical review is about Latvia; Lithuania; and Estonia.Lucas used many primary sources for his research of the current events and historical events discussed in the book.For me; the most interesting part of the book was about Herman Simm; an Estonian official who was arrested in 2008 for secretly working for Russian intelligence. Lucas gained first-hand information by interviewing Simm in prison. The process by which Simm was recruited; compensated; and operated reveals to Westerners the way in which other officials in Eastern Europe are probably controlled by Russia today.Lucas' warning throughout is that the West is making a mistake by pretending that everything is okay in democratic Russia. In his words; "the West should start exposing corrupt practices by the Russian establishment; whose ability to find havens for stolen funds and leave Russia for comfortable lives in Western nations is one of the regime's pillars of stability." I fully agree.John Christmas; whistleblower from Parex Bank of LatviaNote: "Deception: Spies; Lies and How Russia Dupes the West" is the UK edition and "Deception: The Untold Story of East-West Espionage Today" is the USA edition.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Great insights into East-West espionage ánd a terrific readBy AlexanderFor anyone who is curious to get to know more about (post cold war) east-west espionage; this is your book. The author gives an in-depth overview; explaining the development and position of the different intelligence agencies as well as describing in depth analysis of remarkable events; including the recent case of Anna Chapman but also operations most of us never heard about before. The information that you as reader are provided with is well researched and therefore very interesting and shows how the author wanted to do more than writing a book based on exciting espionage stories and clichés.What actually makes the book such a good book is not only the balanced and well researched information; but also the exciting way how it's written which makes it enjoyable to read while preserving the quality of the content.
