Mexico's views of the United States have been characterized as
stridently anti-American, but recent policy changes in
Mexico-culminating with the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA)-mark a fundamental transformation in the relationship. This
thoughtful and original work answers questions about the impact of these
policy shifts on Mexican nationalism and perceptions of the United
States. Have popular and elite views changed? Has the government's
anti-American rhetoric become anachronistic? What has been the effect on
Mexican national identity? As the only developing country to have
entered into a free trade agreement with a developed country, Mexico
offers a unique and invaluable case study of the impact of globalization
on a nation and its national identity. Exploring Mexico's experience
also allows us to consider how other countries perceive the United
States, especially in the post-9/11 climate. Analyzing the diversity of
Mexican views of the United States, Gringolandia contributes a rich and
nuanced dimension to our understanding of contemporary Mexico and
Mexicans' feelings about the vital cross-border relationship.