With a population of more than 110 million, Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. For many, particularly in the U.S. and Canada, it is a vacation getaway with beaches at Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta and "una cerveza mas, por favor." Throw in a pyramid or two and that's about it. The complex realities of the country escape most visitors. Mexico has a rich history of revolution and resistance to tyranny. But much of the news today is about gun battles and drug cartels. What are the prospects for revolutionary change?

John Ross has lived and worked in Mexico for decades. His reporting has appeared in various journals and magazines. He is the winner of the Upton Sinclair Award and the American Book Award. His books include The Annexation of Mexico, and El Monstruo : Death & Redemption in Mexico City.