The EI Podcast 1821 and the invention of world order
Oct 30, 2025
Historian Damian Valdez dives into the pivotal year of 1821 and the birth of modern international order. He explores the surprising alliance between Guerrero and Iturbide that marked Mexico's independence. The conversation shifts to Spain's revolt and its ripple effects across Latin America and Europe, igniting constitutionalism and national movements. Valdez highlights Metternich's efforts to maintain stability through diplomacy, while the Greek uprising posed new challenges. Ultimately, 1821 set a precedent for international crisis management, shaping national identities and policies for generations.
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Unlikely Embrace That Created Mexico
- Vicente Guerrero and Agustín de Iturbide embraced after a decade of brutal war in February 1821.
- Their unlikely alliance combined insurgents and royalists to secure Mexico's independence and briefly crown Iturbide emperor.
Local Elites Recast Loyalties
- The 1821 Mexican gamble showed local elites could pivot from empire to independent statehood to protect interests.
- That maneuver illustrates how domestic choices responded to broader transatlantic political shocks.
Riego's Revolt Sparked Transatlantic Change
- The 1820 Spanish revolt by Rafael Riego forced Ferdinand VII to accept the liberal 1812 constitution.
- That constitutional ripple helped trigger independence movements across Spanish America, including Mexico.