ABSTRACT

The conflict between a people's determination to preserve their socio-cultural identity and the aspiration toward technological progress and knowledge has become common in the age of globalization. One people that has remarkably kept a balance between tradition and progress are the Mazahuas of Central Mexico. Purgatory and Utopia, now available in paperback, describes how the Mazahuas have preserved their cultural identity and some of their ancient social institutions, while at the same time modifying their lifestyles, in a gradual, natural way.

chapter |16 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|5 pages

Decisions and Accidents

chapter 2|4 pages

Methodological Dilemma

chapter 3|5 pages

Research Techniques

part I|20 pages

The Village in the Larger World

chapter 1|6 pages

Historical Perspective

chapter 2|8 pages

Contemporary Situation

chapter 3|4 pages

Aspirations and Utopias

part II|28 pages

Social Differentiation

chapter 1|10 pages

Generations

chapter 2|9 pages

Men and Women

chapter 3|7 pages

Inequalities and Equalities

part III|62 pages

World View of Mazahuas from El Nopal

chapter 1|7 pages

Dimensions of World View

chapter 2|12 pages

Conception of Universe

chapter 3|8 pages

Conception of Self

chapter 4|9 pages

Conception of Society

chapter 5|16 pages

Conception of Supernatural

part IV|29 pages

Persistence and Change

chapter 1|10 pages

Decision - Making

chapter 2|10 pages

The Meaningful

chapter 3|4 pages

The Instrumental

chapter 4|3 pages

The Meaningless