Organizing Dissent

Organizing Dissent, volume 1, provides a detailed historical analysis of the democratic movement within Mexico's National Union of Education Workers. This academic work examines the rise of the largest union in Latin America during the 1970s and 1980s. Maria Lorena Cook explores how this movement maintained perseverance and achieved success despite a governing regime known for its capacity to control and repress political activity. The text tracks the development of the teachers' movement from its early origins through the economic crisis of the 1980s and into the Salinas administration.

This history book investigates the complex relationships between union leadership, the state, and rank-and-file teachers. By analyzing organizational dynamics and competing strategies, the author compares the outcomes of six regional contingents across southern and central Mexico. Organizing Dissent serves as a significant resource for those studying social movements, teachers' unions, and the political history of Mexico. It offers scholarly insight into how organized labor navigates repressive political environments.