THE SUSTAINABLE RURAL CITIES (SRC) PROJECT: THE CASE OF CHIAPAS, MEXICO

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of public policy in the creation of sustainable rural cities (SRCs) in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. This policy is examined in the context of two indigenous communities; Nuevo San Juan Grijalva and Santiago El Pinar from 2007 to 2010, a time of substantial change in both indigenous areas. The aim of this paper is to explain the consequences of public policy on rural cities, to do this, the analysis is divided into five sections; the first section describes conditions in indigenous communities in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. The second details economic vulnerability in indigenous communities; which requires a centralization of rural population policy in order to provide basic services. The next section examines the importance of the implementation of the SRC project. The fourth section describes the small town of Nuevo San Juan de Grijalva, which was destroyed by a natural disaster. The damage caused by the natural disaster acted as a catalyst for the SRC public policy implementation. The final section describes the case of Santiago El Pinar, a village that lacked even the most basic services but by the year 2010 had been transformed into a sustainable rural city. Among the issues raised are the following: the term sustainable rural city has been controversial since its introduction, particularly in connection with indigenous communities. Under the SRC model basic services are provided without allowing indigenous communities an opportunity to adapt to such radical change. The aforementioned policy is a landmark in solving the socio-economic, political and cultural issues that the indigenous communities in Chiapas face. However, it is essential to empower these communities by including them in the planning process and to take indigenous cultures into account.