Mayan Lives, Mayan Utopias: The Indigenous Peoples of Chiapas and the Zapatista Rebellion (Latin American Perspectives in the Classroom) [Paperback]

Jan Rus (Editor, Contributor), Rosalva Aída Hernández Castillo (Editor, Contributor), Shannan L. Mattiace (Editor, Contributor), José Alejos García (Contributor), Andrés Aubry (Contributor), Araceli Burguete Cal y Mayor (Contributor), George A. Collier (Contributor), Christine Eber (Contributor), Gustavo Esteva (Contributor), Xóchitl Leyva Solano (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0742511480 | ISBN-13: 978-0742511484 | Publication Date: September 3, 2003

The dramatic January 1, 1994, emergence of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in Chiapas, Mexico, brought the state's indigenous peoples to the attention of the international community. Yet indigenous peoples in Chiapas had been politically active and organized for years prior to the uprising. This compelling volume examines in detail these local and regional histories of power and resistance, powerfully bolstered by gripping and heartrending details of oppression and opposition. Situated broadly within the field of political anthropology, the authors trace the connections between indigenous culture and indigenous resistance. Their case studies include the Tzotzils and Tzeltals of the highland region, the Tojolabals of eastern Chiapas, northern Ch'ol communities, the Mams of eastern and southeastern Chiapas, and the settler communities of the Lacandon rain forest. In the wake of the Chiapas rebellion, all of these groups have increasingly come together around common goals, the most important of which is autonomy. Three essays focus specifically on the issue of Indian autonomy_in both Zapatista and non-Zapatista communities. Offering a consistent and cohesive vision of the complex evolution of a region and its many cultures and histories, this work is a fundamental source for understanding key issues in nation building. In a unique collaboration, the book brings together recognized authorities who have worked in Chiapas for decades, many linking scholarship with social and political activism. Their combined perspectives, many previously unavailable in English, make this volume the most authoritative, richly detailed, and authentic work available on the people behind the Zapatista movement.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A compelling and essential volume for understanding the complexities of Chiapas, its people—the indigenous citizens but also the state—and the context of the polarized moment in that part of the world. (Todd Eisenstadt )

This important set of articles is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of indigenous societies in the midst of the process of globalization. Its integration of the complexities of geography, cultures, and history poses fundamental questions for the future of humanity. By explaining with sympathetic detail the origins of the underlying tensions and the vast array of resources that local communities can mobilize, the authors also pose fundamental questions for students concerned about their own futures... (Barkin, David )

From the foreword: It is an extraordinary thing for a book to be born a classic. And yet this is the fate that surely awaits Mayan Lives, Mayan Utopias. This book fills a niche that has until now been empty, that of providing real histories of Chiapas' many indigenous societies--societies that up to now have too often been regarded by outsiders as a monolithic whole, without details or differences. Indispensable--provides a long-needed historical benchmark.... (Samuel Ruiz García )

A book of deep wisdom; canny insight; trustworthy accounts from the inside; radical honesty from the outside; comprehensive sympathy with its subjects; precise sensitivity to nuance and difference; acute social, political, and cultural analysis; masterlyevaluation; cogent argument; and wonderful clarity in explanation. It is the most authoritative work in any language on Chiapas's contemporary Mayans, their struggles, and their hopes.... (John Womack )

One of the best collections I have seen on the Zapatista Rebellion and its implications for Mexican politics and society. The authors facilitate a multidisciplinary, intimate understanding of the complex causes and consequences of peasant and indigenous rebellion. (Donna Lee Van Cott )

This important set of articles is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of indigenous societies in the midst of the process of globalization. Its integration of the complexities of geography, cultures, and history poses fundamental questions for the future of humanity. By explaining with sympathetic detail the origins of the underlying tensions and the vast array of resources that local communities can mobilize, the authors also pose fundamental questions for students concerned about their own futures. (Barkin, David )

From the foreword: It is an extraordinary thing for a book to be born a classic. And yet this is the fate that surely awaits Mayan Lives, Mayan Utopias. This book fills a niche that has until now been empty, that of providing real histories of Chiapas' many indigenous societies--societies that up to now have too often been regarded by outsiders as a monolithic whole, without details or differences. Indispensable--provides a long-needed historical benchmark. (Samuel Ruiz García )

A book of deep wisdom; canny insight; trustworthy accounts from the inside; radical honesty from the outside; comprehensive sympathy with its subjects; precise sensitivity to nuance and difference; acute social, political, and cultural analysis; masterly evaluation; cogent argument; and wonderful clarity in explanation. It is the most authoritative work in any language on Chiapas's contemporary Mayans, their struggles, and their hopes. (John Womack )

A welcome addition to the literature. . . . The book's introduction provides a cogent discussion of how, over decades, economic crisis has produced Indian mobilizations and finally rebellion, while the final three essays usefully explore Mexico's continuing national debate over Indian rights and autonomy. . . . Highly recommended. (Choice )

An important contribution to our understanding of what has happened in Chiapas, and why. As such, it will be of immense use to anthropologists, historians, sociologists and political scientists interested in the relationship between indigenous peoples and the nation-state in post-colonial societies. It will also appeal to Mexicanists and scholars of Latin America grappling with the social, economic and political legacy of the region's long history of globalization and the more recent demise of corporate structures of governance. (The Journal Of Peasant Studies )

Mayan Lives, Mayan Utopias brims with factual details and insider knowledge, complemented by original maps of the region and numerous photographs. Even specialists are sure to find new information and insights, while novices will find a compelling introduction to the topic. (Hispanic American Historical Review )

This edited collection is essential reading for anyone desiring a historically complex and ethnographically and politically sophisticated understanding of the roots of the Capatista rebellion and its impact on Mayan indigenous communities. Mayan Lives, Mayan Utopies is an outstanding text that offers one of the most complex, honest, and sophisticated analyses of the impact of the Zapatista rebellion on indigenous peoples in Mexico and on the political future of the Mexican nation. (Stephen, Lynn The Journal Of The Royal Anthropological Institute )

About the Author

Jan Rus is director of the Native Language Publishing Project, Instituto de Asesor'a Antropol-gica para la Regi-n Maya, A.C., San Crist-bal, Chiapas. Rosalva A'da HernOndez Castillo is a senior researcher at the Center for Research and Higher Studies in Social Anthropology (CIESAS), Mexico City. Shannan L. Mattiace is assistant professor of political science, Allegheny College.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (September 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0742511480
• ISBN-13: 978-0742511484
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,895,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the Zapatistas, August 7, 2005

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This review is from: Mayan Lives, Mayan Utopias: The Indigenous Peoples of Chiapas and the Zapatista Rebellion (Latin American Perspectives in the Classroom) (Paperback)

Jan Rus and company have compiled some well-researched articles by scholars who have devoted many years living with and studying indigenous communities in Chiapas.
This book is a well-organized anthropological-historical analysis of the emergence of the Zapatista rebellion and the response by the different indigenous groups who are seeking to develop their identity and their communities in a changing Mexico. An excellent introduction and well-written articles make this text essential for a balanced and insightful understanding of the groups seeking autonomy and democracy in Chiapas and Mexico.