STATE AGRARIANISM VERSUS DEMOCRATIC AGRARIANISM - TEJEDA,ADALBERTO EXPERIMENT IN VERACRUZ, 1928-32

This article analyses Adalberto Tejeda's agrarian experiment in the st ate of Veracruz, Mexico, during the years 1928-32. This experiment was unique in two respects. First, disregarding the central government's policy, which sought to end agrarian distribution completely, it parce lled out land to the peasants on an unprecedented scale; secondly, it proved, contrary to the prevailing wisdom of the time, that agrarian r eform implemented through the full range of channels offered by the 19 17 federal constitution could serve as a tool of social justice and eq uality, and hence as a central factor in the advancement of social wel fare and democracy in Mexico. This article seeks to show that the fail ure of the Veracruz experiment offers an explanation-perhaps a cardina l explanation-for the perceived failure of Mexican agrarian reform in general.