Guatemala: Linaje y racismo. (Guatemala: Lineage and Racism)

By staff -- Críticas, 10/15/2007

Now in its third edition, this is a revised, expanded, and updated version of an important study on the development of Guatemala’s elite. First published in Costa Rica in 1992 and available for the first time from a major Guatemalan publisher, this study is representative of a new generation of Central American historians who creatively use social science methodology to explain Central American historical evolution. In this superb volume, Casaús studies the genealogy and history of eight of the most prominent families in Guatemalan history. She demonstrates that they were not only important in the 19th century but were able to flourish through the 20th century by diversifying economically, developing important alliances with similar dominant families (primarily with strategic marriages), and maintaining connections and affiliations with all major political factions. Casaús shows that a fundamental aspect of the thinking and activities of these families was a racism that was used to justify suppression of the country’s indigenous majority population. Well written and easy to read, this work makes for an important understanding of the Guatemalan political and economic elite, thus providing the background needed to comprehend present-day Guatemalan political and economic events. Highly recommended for large collections.—Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, Utah