International Opportunities and Domestic Protest: Zapatistas, Mexico and the New World Economy

Abstract

The EZLN (Zapatista Army of National Liberation) uprising in Chiapas, Mexico, in 1994 took advantage of many political opportunities in an economic and politically liberalizing state. Most significantly, the negotiation and passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) generated issues over which to mobilize and created political openings in the system to support mobilization. While NAFTA highlighted the dark side of globalization with its negative effects on living conditions in southern Mexico, it also ushered in political reforms that protected human rights and brought great international attention to Mexico. Many nations were watching to see whether Mexico had reached economic and political maturity. Taken together, these political opportunities provided the context for the EZLN to mobilize as a political movement.

Keywords:

• Indigenous movements
• human rights networks
• political opportunities
• globalization
• Mexico

Notes

1. The Zapatista movement was able to draw on such experiences, just one example from Nash's (2001) observations of the security belts that provided protection throughout the peace dialogue and international conferences where women from a cooperative in Amantengo, Chiapas, were seen joining arms with indigenous men and international peace observers.

2. Common recitation found on EZLN communiqués.

3. Testimonials/communiqués by movement members available on the official homepage (www.ezln.org) from 1993–2005.