The Zapatistas, formally known as the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN), are an Indigenous-led revolutionary movement based in Chiapas, Mexico, that emerged publicly on January 1, 1994, the day the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect. Rooted in demands for Indigenous rights, land reform, autonomy, and resistance to neoliberal economic policies, the EZLN blends armed rebellion with grassroots political organizing. While the group initially took up arms, it soon shifted toward nonviolent civil resistance, creating autonomous communities that govern through participatory democracy. The Zapatistas have become an international symbol of anti-globalization, Indigenous dignity, and alternative forms of governance.
| Creation date | 1994 |
|---|---|
| Topics | Democracy, Land Use |
| Context | Rural |
| Languages | Spanish; Castilian |
| Thematics | Radical Democracy |
Stories
- Contributions of Zapatista Autonomy to Democracy by Xochitl Leyva Solano published in our report Radical Democracy: recovering the roots of self-governance & autonomy