Abstract
In Mexico, a widespread opinion emphasizes that the generous reception
of Latin American political exiles during the 1960s and 1970s is one of two
faces of a Janus-like political system that left little room for opposition or
dissent. The first of these faces looked towards the international sphere,
respectful of nations’ sovereignty and condemning all forms of foreign intervention; while the other, less friendly face looked inward. It was the
face of the authoritarian Mexico willing to repress the actions of leftist opponents.
This text interrogates this paradox through the study of the Mexican
intelligence services in charge of monitoring and controlling the activities of
Latin American exiles in the country. To that end, I reconstruct the political
purpose, the mechanisms, and strategies implemented to control and surveil
the exiles’ political action. I seek to show that, rather than form a paradox,
the reception of political exiles exercised functions that legitimated political
power through a complex articulation of foreign and domestic policy.
Keywords: Mexico; Exiles; Political Asylum; Intelligence Agencies;
Twentieth Century
Copyright © 2012-2013 Estudios Interdisciplinarios de América Latina y el Caribe.
ISSN 0792-7061
Editores: Ori Preuss; Nahuel Ribke
Instituto Sverdlin de Historia y Cultura de América Latina, Escuela de Historia
Universidad de Tel Aviv, Ramat Aviv,
P.O.B. 39040 (69978), Israel.
Correo electrónico: eial@tauex.tau.ac.il
Fax: 972-3-6406931