Producing Mayaland

Critical urban theory and postcolonial approaches are brought together in this compelling book to explore the relationship between colonial legacies, urbanization, and global capitalism in southern Mexico. “Producing Mayaland” investigates the boom-to-bust story of maquiladoras in the state of Yucatán to shed light on how the built environment was shaped by discourse, imaginaries, and everyday practices. In making sense of this social production of space, the author examines infrastructure constructed to support the maquiladora project and traces the attempts of the state to portray Yucatán as an exotic and business-friendly maquiladora paradise. These practices stand in contrast to the livelihood strategies and life stories of maquiladora workers and residents. Carefully weaving geography, history, and ethnography, the author draws on a wide range of sources to illustrate a central tension in capitalism: its tendency to homogenize while thriving in differentiation. With important insights into an understudied location, “Producing Mayaland” urges us to understand urbanization in the global South in new ways.