Vecinos Distantes: Un Retrato de Los Mexicanos / Distant Neighbors [Spanish]

By Alan Riding

La nueva pol mica entre M xico y Estados Unidos es pr cticamente id ntica a la narrada por el autor de Vecinos distantes en 1985 . -El Pa s, 2025

Esta obra, publicada por primera vez en espa ol en 1985, es un estudio social, cultural, pol tico y econ mico sobre M xico. En ese a o, el pa s vivi algunos de los sucesos m s complicados de su historia contempor nea: una grave crisis econ mica; las constantes intromisiones en asuntos internos del embajador estadounidense John Gavin; el brutal asesinato del agente de la DEA, Enrique Kiki Camarena, que conmocion tanto a M xico como a los Estados Unidos; y, por si fuera poco, un terremoto que exhibi la ineficiencia de la clase pol tica y demostr el poder de la sociedad civil: millones de ciudadanos, solo equipados con su voluntad, cooperaron en el rescate de las v ctimas y en el apoyo a las familias afectadas.

Vecinos distantes desat una gran pol mica y provoc la furia del gobierno priista del d a y de aquellos mexicanos que sintieron que ning n extranjero tiene derecho a criticar a M xico . Al mismo tiempo, despert el inter s de un amplio p blico y se reimprimi m ltiples veces.

En 2001, se public una segunda edici n que inclu a un ep logo donde Riding retomaba los acontecimientos para analizar el fin del largo r gimen del PRI y la transici n a la democracia. Ahora, 25 a os despu s, vuelve con un nuevo ep logo que examina lo ocurrido desde entonces, as como las tensiones actuales en la relaci n bilateral con dos l deres en los extremos del espectro pol tico. Vecinos distantes, considerado por algunos ya como un cl sico , es hoy tan actual como hace cuatro d cadas.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

"The new controversy between Mexico and the United States is practically identical to the one described by the author of Distant Neighbors in 1985." -El Pa s, 2025

First published in Spanish in 1985, this book is a social, cultural, political, and economic study of Mexico. That year marked one of the most turbulent periods in the country's modern history: a severe economic crisis; repeated interference in domestic affairs by U.S. ambassador John Gavin; the brutal murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, which shocked both Mexico and the United States; and, to top it off, an earthquake that exposed the inefficiency of the political class and revealed the strength of civil society, as millions of citizens--armed only with their will--joined rescue efforts and supported affected families.

Distant Neighbors sparked major controversy and drew the ire of the ruling PRI government and many Mexicans who felt that "no foreigner has the right to criticize Mexico." At the same time, it captured the attention of a wide readership and was reprinted multiple times.

In 2001, a second edition was released with an epilogue in which Riding revisited events to analyze the end of the PRI's long rule and Mexico's transition to democracy. Now, 25 years later, he returns with a new epilogue examining what has happened since, as well as the current tensions in bilateral relations between two leaders at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Distant Neighbors, considered by some a "classic", remains as relevant today as it was four decades ago.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: Spanish
• ISBN: 6076390522
• ISBN13: 9786076390528
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Planeta Publishing
• Length: 552 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 5.9" x 8.9"