Critical Social Inquiry 0229 - Resistance and Rebellion in Mexico: from the Zapatistas to 2018 Election

Twenty-five years ago the Zapatistas, a revolutionary indigenous movement, rose in revolt in Chiapas. Surfacing the same day that NAFTA went into effect-January 1, 1994, they announced a different vision of Mexico's future. On July 1, 2018, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador [AMLO] swept to power in the first election of a Leftist president since Mexico's "transition to democracy" in 2000. Today, these two poles of resistance are at odds, as the Zapatistas argue that the capitalist hydra, the "monster without a country" continues to rule despite who has been elected. This course will concentrate on the actions and writings of the Zapatistas. At a moment when most of Mexico is banking on a profound change through capture of the state, focusing on the Zapatistas enables us consider the relevance and value of a radical movement that instead has opted for autonomy, an alternative form of social and political organization that draws its strength from internal participatory and direct democracy. Key words: Mexico, indigenous politics, revolution, social movements, neoliberalism

In/Justice This course if fully remote. Students should generally expect to spend 8-10 hours per week on work outside of class time.