State corporatism A political economic system in
which theoretically autonomous private organ-
izations with State-licensed representational
monopolies actually seize control of the State
to use its resources and coercive power to build
patron-client relationships with rank-and-file
members.
Syndicalism The political philosophy that es-
chews electoral politics in favor of working-
class solidarity, direct action, and trade union
organization as the foundation both for popu-
lar resistance to an unjust capitalist wage sys-
tem and for the postcapitalist management of a
democratic socialist alternative.
Tenente A Brazilian army lieutenant, usually as-
sociated with junior army officers who sought
political, economic, and social reforms in the
1920s.
Tezontli From the Nahuatl language, this word
describes a reddish volcanic rock often used in
the construction of Aztec houses.
Tienda de raya A hacienda’s company store,
which typically exploited its commercial mo-
nopoly to coerce a stable labor supply through
debt peonage.
Tierras baldías Literally “idle lands,” refers to un-
titled lands that legally belonged to the state for
disposition as “public lands,” even though peas-
ant families may have resided upon them and
cultivated them to basic subsistence crops for
generations.
Tierras comunes Literally “common lands,” this
refers alternately to collectively owned indig-
enous lands or to publicly owned lands whose
use was traditionally shared.
Tomas de tierra Literally “land seizures,” this is a
strategy of “direct action” organized by landless
peasant movements to combat perceived social
injustice by invading and occupying privately
owned lands.
Valorization The system devised by Brazilian cof-
fee oligarchs to use the nation-state’s resources
to purchase, warehouse, and market surplus
coffee production in order to stabilize interna-
tional coffee prices at levels sufficiently high to
guarantee profits for the coffee plantations.
Vaqueros Cowboys.
Villa de señorío Towns that traditionally func-
tioned independently of the crown and fell under
the authority of either the Catholic Church or
the nobility.
Visita A judicial investigation of indigenous vil-
lages to ascertain their capacity to pay royal
tribute or to examine a colonial official’s con-
duct in tribute collection; a tour of inspection or
other official visit, usually made unannounced.
Visitador An official entrusted by the crown or
the viceroy with the conduct of a visita.
Yanacona (1) A servant or retainer of the Inca
in ancient Peru. (2) An indigenous laborer or
tenant farmer of semiservile status attached to a
Spanish master or estate in colonial Peru.
Zambos The offspring of sexual liaisons between
Africans and indigenous Americans.