Mexico and the shadow of a lost history

Mexico and the shadow of a lost history What would Mexico be like if the United States had not appropriated more than half of its territory in the 19th century? To what extent can Mexico's current economic condition be explained by that national tragedy from over a century and a half ago? These questions lead us to reflect on an alternate scenario in which Mexico would have retained California, Texas, and other territories that it ceded to American expansion in the 19th century. What Mexico lost in the 19th century has become a wealth empire that dazzles the world. California, dubbed the "Golden State," is the symbol of American economic optimism, being the most innovative and prosperous state. Meanwhile, Texas has emerged as an economic powerhouse in the energy industry, with a GDP larger than that of all of Mexico. By adding the current GDP of California and Texas to that of Mexico, the Mexican economy would reach US$5 trillion annually, positioning it as the world's third-largest economy. However, would California and Texas have achieved such prosperity if they had remained part of Mexico? Some argue that the economic development of these territories was enhanced by being part of the United States. Experts like Sandra Kuntz Ficker point out that in the 19th century, Mexico was poor and sparsely populated, unable to effectively integrate those territories. Additionally, laws imposing Catholicism as the official religion would have hindered colonization by Protestant settlers. Even if Mexico had retained those lands, would it have been able to efficiently exploit and develop its resources? On the other hand, scholars like Carlos Marichal suggest that if Mexico had kept California, it could have benefited from the gold rush that drove the region's early development. There is also speculation about a massive migration northward in Mexico, as well as possible land sale agreements with settlers interested in expanding westward. Counterfactual history invites us to imagine a Mexico with a different economic development had it not lost its great North in the 19th century. However, reality shows us a nation coexisting with the complexity of having neighboring lands that were once its own, but achieved their economic potential after being incorporated by the United States. Mexico's history in the 19th century was marked by a challenging situation, where poverty and state incapacity clashed with the expansion of an emerging power. Despite speculations about lost economic potential, Mexico must deal with a reality in which the shadow of an alternate history looms over its present. Ultimately, history reminds us that the decisions of the past shape the present and future of nations. Mexico, with its rich cultural and geographical heritage, continues to face challenges and opportunities in a changing world. Reflecting on its lost history invites us to question the course of its economic and social development, in a constant dialogue with its evolving past and identity.