Mexico: Zapatista Rebellion

• A. In response to NAFTA, though organizing for some time
• B. identify with Emiliano Zapata
• C. Primarily indigenous of Chiapas (mostly Maya)
• D. Visible leadership in Subcommandante Marcos
• E. Also known as the EZLN
• F. Have had enormous impact because of Internet -- first rebel group anywhere to do this

• A. Neoliberalism vs. Humanity the major conflict of today
• B. Mexico divided (how Zapatistas describe the government's point of view)
  • 1. neoliberal producers - those who are active in the modern, global economy
  • 2. All others regarded by government as parasites
  • 3. But Zapatistas see the state and the owners as the parasites
  • 4. Zapatistas believe that it is the peasants and the workers who are the real producers, not capitalists and financiers
• C. What is Neoliberalism?
  • 1. Presently the dominant economic model in the U.S. and most international economic policy
  • 2. Essentially a return to capitalist orthodoxy
    • a. Rule of the market
    • b. Cutting public expenditures
    • c. Deregulation
    • d. Privatization of state-owned industry
    • e. Elimination of concept of "public good" in favor of "individual responsibility"
  • 3. Free trade, low taxes, minimal government regulation - unfettered competition
  • 4. meant to make economies highly efficient to produce maximum growth
  • 5. idea is that while many protections will be removed, a rising tide will lift all boats
  • 6. Has, so far at least, a distinct tendency to concentrate wealth at the top
• D. Zapatistas' view of Neoliberalism
  • 1. EZLN sees Mexico City as a model of neoliberalism - tanks and sewers
    • a) tanks in the street to keep order over an increasingly impoverished population
    • b) order needed to keep economy running efficiently
    • c) meanwhile, street children live in sewers to hide from death squads
  • 2. Zapatistas argue that a society governed strictly by market laws is a society in which humans are valued only in financial terms.
  • 3. Further argue that Neoliberalism has created a new world war, in which the concentration of wealth is the greatest crime against humanity.
• E. Seek creation of a democracy based on civil society
• F. Do not seek full control of nation, but to participate in this new democracy
  • 1. "We are not guerrillas, we are revolutionaries"
  • 2. Seek to create revolutionary thinking -- do not focus on military overthrow of state

• A. Subcommandante Marcos - "This is an ethnic movement!" 1/10/94 - well, not really
• B. Alliance of Amerindian peasants and leftist intellectuals
  • 1. most of the soldiers are indigenous peasants from Chiapas
  • 2. But Marcos clearly a member of Mexico's educated elite
  • 3. this kind of alliance common feature of Latin American Rebel groups
• C. Real identity is "the oppressed" - people united because of history of struggle
  • 1. argue that they are the products of 500 years of struggle
  • 2. Independence from Spain meant nothing - most Mexicans are still colonized, this time by Mexico City and international capitalism
  • 3. have made efforts to identify with others around they world they regard as oppressed
    • a. do this in part to gain support, money from the outside
    • b. but also to demonstrate the universal nature of their struggle
    • c. Internet has enabled them to link with protest groups around the world
• D. Argue that they are the true builders of the nation
• E. Also, that they are a real army, with flags, uniforms, adhere to the Geneva Convention

• A. Opressor is ahistorical
  • 1. all those people through history who have oppressed the poor of Mexico
  • 2. In effect, those who steal
• B. Chiapas as a state that bleeds
  • 1. Zapatistas point out that Chiapas has tremendous agricultural and oil wealth
  • 2. But most of that wealth leaves Chiapas
  • 3. Chiapas traditionally ignored in reforms after the Revolution
• C. Destroyers of nation in name of neoliberalism

• A. To create a humane Mexico - an economy based on humaneness, not efficiency
• B. A blend of traditions and socialism
• C. Expropriate all farms over 50 hectares, except communal and collective farms
• D. Mexico must recognize the differences among its people before it can have unity

• A. Government has been somewhat confused in its response
  • 1. tries to deal with them militarily, but EZLN won't really fight them
  • 2. Tries negotiations, but EZLN presents a very fundamental challenge to government's legitimacy
  • 3. Government can't decide whether to treat them as terrorists or legitimate political group.
  • 4. Death squad style massacres have been a huge embarrassment at home and abroad (major massacre 22 Dec 1997)
• B. The basic challenge
  • 1. Government claims to be heirs of Revolution
  • 2. But Zapatistas say that they are the true heirs of the Revolution
  • 3. If government has betrayed the Revolution, it is not legitimate
  • 4. Also show that Mexico's rising tide missed a lot of people
  • 5. Exposes the inequities of Mexico to the world through the Internet

• A. Has helped to spur the development of civil society in Mexico
• B. Zapatistas supported by majority of Mexico's 10 million Amerindians
• C. Many in Mexico appalled by government tactics, and have mobilized
• D. Human rights violations of government criticized by UN, members of European and U.S. public

VIII. Current activities

• A. Has since 1994 set up a number of "municipalities" autonomous from the government that provide social services
• B. Participates in and organizes demonstrations and other protest activity
• C. Works to organize political networks both in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America to address issues of indigenous peoples in particular, as well as workers, women, students, etc.
• Website of the Zapatistas