Zapatistas: Rebellion from the Grassroots to the Global

by Doctor Alex Khasnabish

In the early hours of January 1, 1994 a guerrilla army of indigenous Mayan peasants emerged from the highlands and jungle in the far southeast of Mexico and declared "¡Ya basta!" - "Enough!" - to 500 years of colonialism, racism, exploitation, oppression, and genocide. As elites in Canada, the United States, and Mexico celebrated the coming into force of the North American Free Trade Agreement the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, EZLN) declared war against this 500 year old trajectory toward oblivion, one that they said was most recently reincarnated in the form of neoliberal capitalist globalization that NAFTA represented.

While the Zapatista uprising would have a profound impact upon the socio-political fabric of Chiapas its effects would be felt far beyond the borders of Mexico. At a moment when state-sponsored socialism had all but vanished from the global political landscape and other familiar elements of the left appeared utterly demoralized and defeated in the face of neoliberal capitalism's global ascendance, the Zapatista uprising would spark an unexpected and powerful new wave of radical socio-political action transnationally.

Through an exploration of the Zapatista movement's origins, history, structure, aims, political philosophy and practice, and future directions this book provides a critical, comprehensive, and accessible overview of one of the most important rebel groups in recent history.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Social Movements, Social Justice

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Adam McPhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introduction to the Zapatistas of Chiapas, Mexico. An armed insurgency that unexpectedly won the sympathy of Mexico's civil society, and morphed it into something else.

Really liked the quotations from Subcomandante Marcos, which were witty and occasionally moving. Want to read his books now.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me to recognize a lot of similarities between the issues of my nation and that of the Indigenous Mexicans. In Jamaica people also don’t have access to the lands we made profitable. Even now our housing market is going through a crisis because overseas investors are gentrifying it and our government allows it and even lies about it being development. When they mentioned the dismissiveness of Mexican nationalism disguised as a multiracial pride it reminded me of the Jamaican national anthem that I hate so much. The idea of us focusing on shared culture with the few non black elites and this perceived idea of superficial diversity as opposed to forming solidarity in the classes experiences of the average black majority of our country. “Out of many” to the 92% comes as a slap in the face especially when those outside of the 92 can’t sympathize or understand the experiences of those within. Some of the ppl in the majority can’t even understand.

Marcos is extremely charismatic and the Zapatista puts the spirit and heart of the struggle back in focus. So often we are caught up in the differences, the pedantics and the discipline that we forget the spirit that drew us in. We didn’t start looking at different political philosophies and started reading and working together because we wanted to win an argument but because we wanted to alleviate suffering and unite the classes in a life of dignity. As someone still embarking on my learning journey and not where I want to be knowledge wise this was very reassuring. We don’t need to know everything but it’s important to feel something.

Larga Vida Zapatista desde Jamaica🇯🇲🇲🇽🩷🩷

[Can · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bir isyan hareketi olarak Zapatizm ve Zapatistalar her zaman en üst seviyede saygı ve ilgiyi hak etmiştir benim için. Meksika kökenli, Neoliberalizme karşı, sömürüye ve ayrımcılığa karşı silahlı ve sözlü bu direniş, bence sözcüleri komutan yardımcısı Marcos'un da dediği gibi tarihte bir yarık açmıştır. Bu bağlamda, kendini sol ve protest olarak gören herkesin mutlaka okuması gereken bir kitap yazmış yazar. Zapatizmin kısa tarihçesi ve Zapatistaların neoliberalizme karşı başlattıkları direnişin ulusal ve uluslarüstü etkilerinin detaylı çözümleme ve analizlerinin bulunduğu bu kitap, Zapatist perspektifi açıkça ortaya koyuyor ve okuyucuyu tarihte açılmış bu yarık hakkında düşünmeye itiyor.

Mücadele sürüyor, sürecek!

[Arthur Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t finish it, because it was written in quite a boring style. Essentially a text book. Not a bad introduction to the Zapatistas though, it gave me a basic understanding of what happened and some of their ideas. If I remember rightly, it had a strong focus on their communiques, rather than telling a story.

[Ivan Savić · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly as the book title sad. Informative read on Zapatista movement beginnings. Mostly about the political influence of the EZLN in Mexico and globally. Nothing is said how they organize internally.

[William K.Z. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this I felt it was a little too heavy and political for my small brain (I’m not well versed in much political writing and was more interested in the cultural and tangible effects).

However; I was totally locked in by the end and very much enjoying the style of writing

[Grace Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introductory book but I found it repetitive at points and wanted to learn more. Somehow I feel like it was missing some key elements.

[Cameron Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent exploration of the Zapatista movement in Southern Mexico. This book is great at explaining the philosophical foundations of the movement and how these connect to the history of Southern Mexico's indigenous communities, as well as how these foundations have come to inform the alternative globalization movement (anti-neoliberal or "anti-globalization" movement) around the world. Understandings between placed-based resistance and these philosophical foundations becomes every more important with the rise of the new take back the square movements, such as those in Athens and Spain to those in Cairo and others placed under the umbrella of the so called "Arab spring" to the the Occupy movement.

[katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy and engaging read. The information about Zapatismo and the Zapatista movement was really good, but because I was reading it for a History course, I found the organization a bit jumbled as I was expecting more of a chronological format. Recommended for anyone that wants to learn about an alternative philosophy to the neoliberal capitalist system or current events in Mexico. Interesting and inspiring stuff.

[Pierre-Olivier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book by Khasnabish , who I was having the amazing chance of meeting in the last anarchist bookfair in Halifax in 2021. The resume on the back of the book said it all. I strongly recommend that reading to every leftist organisers and activist who have strong anarchist tendencies like me. Inspiring , clear , super well written.

[Velvetink]

Been interested and kind of following the Zapatistas's doings for a while, always meant to read more about them, they were mentioned in The Princessa: Machiavelli for Women by Harriet Rubin so figured I should add this to my wishlist..

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this