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Agrarian Winners of Neoliberal Reform: The ‘Maize Boom’ of S inaloa, M exico
Author(s) -
Eakin Hallie,
Bausch Julia C.,
Sweeney Stuart
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of agrarian change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.63
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1471-0366
pISSN - 1471-0358
DOI - 10.1111/joac.12005
Subject(s) - neoliberalism (international relations) , politics , agrarian society , investment (military) , boom , entrepreneurship , capital (architecture) , state (computer science) , economics , political economy , economy , political science , geography , agriculture , finance , computer science , archaeology , engineering , algorithm , environmental engineering , law
While the detrimental impact of neoliberal policy on M exico's maize smallholders is well researched, little attention has been paid to the rise of maize in the northern state of S inaloa. S inaloa's entry into maize has restructured the geography of national supply, and generated a new national confidence in white maize self‐sufficiency. Using semi‐structured interviews and secondary data, we document the primary social and political drivers of S inaloa's maize boom. Local actors trumpet S inaloa's response as a success story of entrepreneurship and technological innovation, while simultaneously appropriating the language of food sovereignty to justify preferential entitlements in public investment. Our analysis confirms interpretations of neoliberalism as a political project, illustrating how existing natural, social and political capital held by specific interest groups can be leveraged and reinforced through private–public partnerships to mould national policy and investment, and the potential vulnerabilities that may emerge from this process.