Translated into English, the title of this book is “The Border That Was Imposed from the North.” This work by Carlos González Herrera, a faculty member of the recently founded Colegio de Chihuahua, focuses on the El Paso – Ciudad Juárez region and examines the construction of an asymmetrical barrier by Anglo-Americans north of the border. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo provided an abstract political division that was apparent only on a map. Within a few short years, railroads, industry, and general economic development constructed a highly identifiable zone on the Anglo-American side, bolstered by political and cultural hegemony. The Mexican Revolution, which significantly affected the border region, brought urgency to further reinforcement of a demarcation between the two countries.
In the most impressive section of his book, González Herrera, relying on hard evidence, demonstrates how Anglo-Americans constructed an idea of their border counterparts by relying on subjective assessments...
