What to read to understand Mexico

Mexicans elected Andrés Manuel López Obrador, or amlo, as president in 2018 because they wanted change. Criminal gangs control swathes of territory and violence remains at shockingly high levels. Corruption is rife. Economic growth languishes. This is despite the fact that Mexico, an emerging economy, has many things going for it, from car manufacturing to a vibrant cultural and culinary scene. So far, the president has failed to address the country’s problems since coming to office. As is to be expected, the most up-to-date books on Mexico are published in Spanish. But this selection will help English-readers understand the country’s challenges and give pointers on how it could develop.