January 1, 1994: Zapatista Army of Liberation (EZLN) occupies towns in

Chiapas, Mexico

Social Protests Against Global Capitalism

Public DemonstrationsWorker StrikesReligious and Social MovementsRevolution

Historical Parallels?

1789-1848 “Age of Revolution” (Hobsbawm) 1830-1930 series of rebellions in Europe (Charles Tilly)

Example of our own experience

Civil Rights Movements (constitutional, etc.)Action Against Discrimination (religious, gender, ethnic)Anti-corporateEnvironmentalMilitia movementReligious activism (morality)

Role of Global Capitalism—transformation of production, exchange & technology has produced tremendous improvements in the quality of life for a significant part of the world population

Benefits are Unequal

loss of land by farmers and peasantsconversion to intermittent wage laborreduction of wageseradication of cultureenvironmental degradationoppressive conditions for children

What leads to revolt?Functional models—order is the normal state of society; disorder can be attributed to marginaliztion of certain sectors of society (the poor, ethnic groups, etc.)Conflict and crisis are inherent in capitalism

protests are natural consequencenot spontaneous but organized, directed activity of those with common interestsmovements may become violent, but violence is usually initiated by authorities

Indigenous people (5% of world population)

populations composed of different ethnic or racial groupsdescendants of the earliest populations which survive in the areado not as a group control the national governmentdefined in relationship to the state (Maybury-Lewis)

Characteristics of Indigenous People

Mobile—cross boundaries important to the stateCommunity ownership of resourcesKin-based social structuresRelatively egalitarian—reduced emphasis on consumption, marking status with possessionsControl land valuable to the state

State actions towards indigenous people—transfer of resources from indigenous people to state sponsored settlers (John Bodley)

Pattern of InterventionExploit ambiguity of border situationsMilitary interventionExtension of government control to break local political autonomy

direct ruleindirect rule—exploit or create local leadersbase camps system—relocate, integrate into trade networks

Land policy—regulation, alienation, individual ownershipCultural modificationEducation (require or forbid)Economic Development—integration into national economy, taxation, cash economy

Example 1Malaysia and the Weapons of the Weak

Research of James Scott (1985)

Weapons of the Weak

Focus on violent protest obscures everyday resistanceSubtle actions enable poor and weak to resist rich and strongMicropracticesEmbodied Actions

Malaysian Green Revolution

1966: World Bank funds Mudra irrigation project on Kedah PlainPeasants are able to double the harvests, extend irrigation to new landProduction doubles, Unemployment reduced, Profit grows from 10% to 18%

Village Benefits

Infrastructure, markets, personal possessionsPoorest peasants able to produce enough for familiesInfant mortality and malnutrition reduced by 50%Debt managed, small landholders maintain land

Social Structure Changes

Increased differentiation between rich and poorSocial response to poverty changesModern management erodes traditional practices, obligationsLoss of cash from labor exchangeErosion of non-market cultural relations (gift-giving, feasts, etc.)

Interpreting ChangeDouble cropping and increased yield makes land more valuable

local peasants cannot pay rentrich peasants keep and utilize land once rented because of profitable returnsrend due in advance, discounts not negotiated

Wealthy farmers have access to new technology—less peasant labor necessaryGift giving and charity from rich decreases—obligations ignored—“the freedom of the unemployed and redundant (Scott)”

Resistance (Scott)

Any acts by members of a subordinate class that are intended to mitigate or deny claims (rents, tax, prestige) made on that class by superordinate classes (landlords, large farmers, state) or to advance its own claims (work, land, charity, respect) vis-à-vis those superordinate classes

Cultural models—folktales, performances emphasize evasiveness and cunning

“Work the system to their minimum disadvantage”—Hobsbawm

Gossip and Character AssaultTheft (seen as substitute for charity)SabotageCollective refusals

Zapatista Rebellion

Obstacles to Resistance…

Who sets the limits?Velocity—is there time to respond?Can the protest be heard?Will hearing produce a response?

Understanding the Moment

January 1, 1994: Mexico’s entrance into NAFTA“NAFTA was the death certificate of the indigenous peoples of Mexico” —Sub-Commandant Marcos

Why Zapata?

Emiliano ZapataRevolution of 1910—move to reestablish communal land holdingEarlier loss of peasant land

Juaraz gives individual title to land—soon lost to peasantsDiaz (1876-1910) sells huge tracts to investors to attract capital

Chiapas

Southernmost state in MexicoPoorest State

Highest malnutrition, illiteracy rates20% population has no income40% has an income less than minimum wageSmall number of wealthy families dominate economy and politics

History of Repression in Chiapas

During revolutionary era, local private armies maintained control through terror1916-Federal Army repelled by Chiapas militias, land reform stifled1993-land held by 6000; 2 million peasantsRigid control by ruling PRI—Mayan community repeats hierarchiesDissent suppressed by vigilantes

The Crisis Intensifies

Mayan farmers resettled in deforested areasNo title to land—harassed by vigilantesProtestants harasses by Catholic establishmentModernization projects (dams, oil drilling) yield uneven benefits

Causes of Poverty

Communally held land can be sold (Constututional Change)NAFTA approvedDecline of agricultural subsidies for poor farmers

Need for peasant agriculture rethought as part of restructuring debt (1982)Fertilizer subsidy removedCoffee price supports removed

Zapatista Tactics

Struggle over legitimacy—Zapatistas subvert gov’t authority by using rhetoric of the revolutionTraditional appealsUse of technology (internet, media)

Responses to the Zapatistas

Government Restraint—military response prevented by media coverageGlobal financial community—Zapatatistas are a hazard to confidence in Mexican markets and must be removedCan government financial aid reach the needy?Danger of vigilantes—1997 massacre of 45 Zapatista sympathizers

Zapatista Information

www.ezln.orgwww.fzln.org.mx