¡Ya Basta! Ten Years of the Zapatista Uprising

by Subcomandante Marcos, Noam Chomsky (Foreword), Naomi Klein (Foreword)

“The world has a new kind of hero, one who listens more than speaks, who preaches in riddles not in certainties, a leader who doesn’t show his face, who says his mask is really a mirror. And in the Zapatistas, we have not one dream of a revolution but a dreaming revolution.”—Naomi Klein The most comprehensive collection of essays and communiqués by Subcomandante Marcos chronicles the written voice of the Zapatista movement and its struggle to open a space within the neoliberal, globalized landscape for the oppressed peoples of the world. Complete from their first public appearance in 1994 through their 10-year anniversary celebrations and period of restructuring in 2004. “The Zapatista uprising in Chiapas was certainly one of the most dramatic and important instances in our time of a genuine grassroots movement against oppression. In this volume, the writings of Subcomandante Marcos give eloquent expression to this movement, revealing both its philo-sophical foundations and its tactical ingenuity. I believe his words and the statements of the Zapatistas can inspire a new generation of activists and let them understand that it is possible for ordinary people, without military power, without wealth, to challenge state power successfully on behalf of social justice. [This] fantastic collection of Marcos’ words conveys the spirit of the Zapatistas as no other book I know has done.”—Howard Zinn “After over 500 years of conquest, the indigenous -people already know what the rest of us must learn about that they exploit the many for the privileges of the few, that they ransack the cultures of antiquity, that they place a burden even on the mother countries. But in their actions and writings, the Zapatistas are inspiring a new generation to join the struggle for a better world. It’s our world too!”—Tom Hayden

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Theory, Indigenous, Activism, Social Movements

687 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Subcomandante Marcos (date of birth unknown) is the spokesperson for the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), a Mexican rebel movement. In January 1994, he led an army of Mayan farmers into the eastern parts of the Mexican state of Chiapas in protest of the Mexican government's treatment of indigenous peoples.

Marcos is an author, political poet, adroit humorist, and outspoken opponent of capitalism. Marcos has advocated having the Mexican constitution amended to recognize the rights of the country's indigenous inhabitants] The internationally known guerrillero has been described as a "new" and "postmodern" Che Guevara. He is only seen wearing a balaclava, and his true identity remains unknown.

Reviews

[Rachel Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos (or Galeano, as he is known now) always seems to have a surprise up his sleeve when it comes to writing about the Zapatista movement of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). I read his other selected writings in Our Word Is Our Weapon and loved them, and when I discovered this compilation in my local library I knew I couldn't pass it up. Parts of it were interesting and parts of it were drivel, if I'm being completely honest. It was broad, sweeping coverage of the beliefs and stories behind the EZLN, but as with OWIOW, I felt it was too heavily consisting of stories and legends rather than histories and philosophies of the movement.

The more I read and learn about the Zapatistas the more interested in them I become, and I hoped to learn more about the history of the uprising and its planning and where it will go from here. There was a great deal more information about that in this book than there was in any previous writings of Marcos that I've read, but not nearly enough. I want an account of January 1, 1994. I want to know about the preparation of that fateful day; I want to know more about the uprising operations; I want to know more about the immediate aftermath and the people's viewpoints and opinions following that day. Ya Basta! did contain more information on that subject than any other book I've read on it, but it still wasn't close to enough.

Marcos is infinitely quotable, that's for sure, and there are plenty of inspiring things in the book to make you think about political movements and especially those that ignite rebellion nation-wide as the Zapatistas have done in Mexico. By far my favorite part of the book was the very end, all of the declarations from the Lacandon Jungle that the EZLN issued over the course of their uprising. There it was so interesting to read the motivations for their military action and planned resistance in the future. Reading about the EZLN always makes me angry about the conditions they have been given by the Mexican government, but it also fills me with hope and inspiration knowing that there can be a future to push for, a world in which all worlds can fit.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't the book I was looking for on the Zapatistas. The intros are great and informative, especially by the editor Vovodnik. It's also nice that it has all the Declarations from the Lacandon Jungle at the end. But the 600 pages in the middle, Marcos' writings, are not spectacular. There's a lot of literary stuff involving beetles, the moon, and ancient gods. The critiques of neoliberalism and the Mexican government are good, and sprinkled all over, but this book is not a historical or factual documentation of the Zapatista Uprising.

[Tomek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing. I was expecting a history of the Zapatista movement through the eyes of El Sup. Instead, I read disjointed and scattered essays, polemics, and letters by the leader. A few were interesting, but I feel that most simply repeated the same points over and over. I need to find another book that details the history of the revolution and the movement.

[chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive (and weighty) anthology of the writings of Subcommandante Marcos, spokesman for the Zapatistas. By far the most entertaining of his writings our the stories and conversations he has about neoliberalism with the beetle known as Durito, who often claims to be a Quixtodian knight.

[Brian Perusek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was marketed in an interesting way. This is far less about the Zapatista movement as it is a comprehensive history of the writings, thoughts, and overall cultural beliefs held by subcommandante Marcos; poems, essays, etc... A good coffee table book for the radical in your family.

[Breandan]

....the future lies in cooperative development...based on cooperative principles....hope the g20 (mexico is a member)...realise this at their upcoming pow wow..

[Murat Kucukgirgin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pek çok edebi eserden daha iyidir.

[Eduardo Zaragoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para todos todo

[E Money The Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

“If, some morning on the map of Chiapas, instead of an immense green area broken up by the blue lines of river and streams, signs of oil wells are seen, and uranium mines, casinos, exclusive residential areas and military bases. . . It will not mean that we have lost, just that we are taking longer to win than we had thought.”

Marcos is dope. 5 star insurgente. I just STRONGLY recommend his Dignified Rage book over this one. Both are collections of speeches and letters but DR is better sorted and organized.

This book is a collection of what I imagine is everything the man wrote through the 1990-00s. Down to the last shopping list. It’s a lot. There is no real organization by theme, only by year published.

Still, Marcos can write like a mfer and manages to stay on top of world events and submits opinions that stand the test of time.

One such is his criticisms of NATO-involved ethnic wars of the late 90s in the Balkans. A take that Bernie Sanders failed on (and was publicly called out by Michael Parenti for). Marcos, in the middle of the jungle, could tell what was going on better than you Bernie? Cmon, get it right.

“All over the world different mobilizations and activities are being carried out at this time against the war that money has sown in the heart of Europe: the war in Kosovo.”

Another section I enjoyed was the letters he wrote to all the support from artists and musicians the indigenous peoples of Chiapas have received! It was cute seeing Marcos thank metal bands I grew up on like Brujeria and, of course, Rage Against the Machine.