The Successes and Failures of the Zapatista Movement Essay

The Successes and Failures of the Zapatista Movement On January 1, 2004, over one thousand people in the mountain hamlet of Oventic, Chiapas, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) rebellion with song and dance. Thus, it seems a fitting time to take stock of the successes and failures of the Zapatista movement in the context of its original goals. While the EZLN has been able to establish thirty eight autonomous indigenous communities in Chiapas, it has failed to weaken the Mexican governments commitment to neo-liberal economic policies. In the following pages, we will explore those factors which enabled the Zapatistas to establish regions of autonomy and extrapolate from Theotonio Dos†¦show more content†¦refusal to take money from the mal gobierno (bad government).? In addition, the Zapatistas have created five organizational centers (caracoles) and established Juntas of Good Government in each of them in order to ?resolve conflicts and disequilibrium between the centers and the outlying autonomies.? The caracoles mark the EZLN?s first success with regional, as opposed to municipal, autonomy. These Zapatista achievements can be attributed to the local terrain of Chiapas, restrictive legislation, and local and national scrutiny. The Mexican government has faced legal and practical restraints on launching an all-out war on the Zapatistas. The first government counter-attacks encountered tactical difficulties in the jungles of Chiapas and the army failed to score a quick military victory. In 1995, the federal congress passed a ?law for dialogue,? which foreclosed the option of a unilateral show of force by the Mexican army in areas under Zapatista control. This legislation catalyzed the signing of the San Andrà ©s Accords by the EZLN and the Zedillo government. The San Andrà ©s Accords, as well as the inaccessibility of the jungles of Chiapas, made overt military action politically and tactically unviable. The EZLN?s national popularity and visibility also guaranteed its survival. Though the Mexican government maintained aShow MoreRelatedEssay Local Successes and National Failures of the EZLN Today1185 Words   |  5 PagesLocal Successes and National Failures of the EZLN Today On January 1, 2004, over one thousand people in the mountain hamlet of Oventic, Chiapas, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) rebellion with song and dance. It seems a fitting time to take stock of the successes and failures of the Zapatista movement in the context of its original goals. The success of the establishment of thirty eight autonomous indigenous communities in Chiapas is overshadowedRead MoreIb History Paper 3 Guide5040 Words   |  21 Pagesre-election campaigns and revolutionary leaders began to form groups and later armies, starting the Mexican Revolution. 2. The revolution and its leaders (1910-1917): Ideologies, aims, methods of Madero, Villa, Zapata, Carranza; achievements and failures; Constitution of 1917: nature and application * Madero: Came to power through the overthrowing of Diaz- Popular for his book, Presidential Succession of 1910. Sought democracy, gained presidency through popular vote. His 15 months in officeRead MoreEu, Nafta, Asean12786 Words   |  52 Pageshas developed a  single market  through a standardised system of laws which apply in all member states. Within theSchengen Area  (which includes 22 EU and 4 non-EU states) passport controls have been abolished.[16]  EU policies aim to ensure the  free movement of people, goods, services, and capital,[17]  enact legislation in justice and home affairs, and maintain common policies on trade,[18]  agriculture,[19]  fisheries  and  regional development.[20]  A monetary union, the  eurozone, was established in 1999