The Mayan in the Mall: Globalization, Development, and the Making of Modern Guatemala

by J.T. Way

In The Mayan in the Mall , J. T. Way traces the creation of modern Guatemala from the 1920s to the present through a series of national and international development projects. Way shows that, far from being chronically underdeveloped, this nation of stark contrasts—where shopping malls and multinational corporate headquarters coexist with some of the Western Hemisphere's poorest and most violent slums—is the embodiment of globalized capitalism. Using a wide array of historical and contemporary sources, Way explores the multiple intersections of development and individual life, focusing on the construction of social space through successive waves of land reform, urban planning, and economic policy. His explorations move from Guatemala City's poorest neighborhoods and informal economies (run predominantly by women) to a countryside still recovering from civil war and anti-Mayan genocide, and they encompass such artifacts of development as the modernist Pan-American Highway and the postmodern Grand Tikal Futura, a Mayan-themed shopping mall ringed by gated communities and shantytowns. Capitalist development, Way concludes, has dramatically reshaped the country's physical and social landscapes—engendering poverty, ethnic regionalism, and genocidal violence—and positioned Guatemala as a harbinger of globalization's future.

Genres: Nonfiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published March 9, 2012

Reviews

[Andrew Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone even marginally interested in Guatemala and/or globalization should read this book! The author pays particular attention to the country's capital, which has been academically overshadowed by other parts of the country for quite some time. Using the Grand Tikal Futura hotel as a focal point, I especially enjoy his discussion of how urban marketplaces actually foster ethnic interrelations as opposed to their segregation in the post-conflict era. His discussion on the revitalization of Zone 1's Sixth Avenue is not to be missed.

[ea304gt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't finished yet. Returned it back to the library. It certainly gives you more perspective: Guatemala has never been ok. Even during the Revolution, there were numerous problems that it is impossible to say that they wouldn't collapse.

The heart of our backward culture perhaps lies in the fact that we've never valued human life, especially indigenous life. Why do we need heavy industry when we can keep all the Indians working manual and miserable labor?
Must finish.

[Alicia Suschena]

Read for class: Ethics of Globalization with Dr. Allison Wolf. This was a great read for class and very in depth on topics in globalization and the history of Guatemala and globalization. If you are interested in researching globalization, read this book!