Who are the Zapatistas?

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) is an indigenous revolutionary group that emerged from the jungles of Chiapas, Mexico. They are known for their staunch anti-capitalist and anti-neoliberal ideology. Their core beliefs are rooted in the fight for land rights, indigenous autonomy, and democratic self-governance. The Zapatistas advocate for a society based on the principles of "mandar obedeciendo" (to command by obeying), where leaders are held accountable to their communities.4 They gained international attention on January 1, 1994, when they launched a rebellion to protest the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which they believed would further impoverish indigenous communities. While they used armed resistance initially, the Zapatistas have since shifted their focus to building autonomous communities and promoting their message through political and media campaigns.