Zapatista!: Reinventing Revolution in Mexico [Paperback]

John Holloway (Editor), Eloina Pelaez (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0745311776 | ISBN-13: 978-0745311777 | Publication Date: July 20, 1998

This collection on the Zapatista uprising brings together contributors from Mexico, the United States and Britain. The editors examine the formation of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) and discuss the key themes of the uprising - from the central issue of what it means to have a revolution that does not aim to take power to the meaning of identity and non-identity, the question of gender, race and class and the role of the Internet and electronic media. The significant contribution that the EZLN's spokesman, Subcomandante Marcos, has made to revolutionary literature is a theme that runs throughout the book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Holloway is a Professor in the Instituto de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades of the Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla in Mexico. His publications include Crack Capitalism (Pluto, 2010), Change the World Without Taking Power (Pluto, 2005), Zapatista! Rethinking Revolution in Mexico (co-editor, Pluto, 1998) and Global Capital, National State and The Politics of Money (co-editor, 1994). Dr Eloina Pelaez is an independent researcher who has worked in the University of Edinburgh and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Pluto Press (July 20, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745311776
• ISBN-13: 978-0745311777
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > History > Americas > Mexico

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read on Zapatistas, May 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Zapatista!: Reinventing Revolution in Mexico (Paperback)

This book provides a good introduction to the politics and organization of the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, Mexico. The book presents the Zapatistas in the context they have attempted to portray themselves: a movement for human dignity and for the upliftment of all peoples, not merely a movement for the rights of indigenous peoples, as the Zapatistas have been portrayed repeatedly by mainstream commentators and press.

This book does a good job of presenting the incisive social critique of the Zapatistas, dispels some of the myths of the organization of the uprising (like that Marcos is the "leader" of the Zapatistas), and shows some of the more interesting salient features of the Zapatista communities. It shows also the history and political development of the Zapatista movement, as well as a juxtaposition of the Zapatistas with the traditional Left. It emphasizes the resistence of the Zapatistas to the usual power-grabbing method of political change. In short, it does an excellent job of conveying the Zapatista philosophy in a short 200 pages.

2 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars zapatista, January 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Zapatista!: Reinventing Revolution in Mexico (Paperback)

on jan 1st 1994 the zapatista liberation army took over 5 townsand 500 ranches in southern mexico. just like in other south american countries american backed death aquads are operating. this again a hidden war. read this book. as subcommandante Marcos said "in the mountains of the mexico souteast, Death is seen as an old acquaintance, someone you continuosly sit down at the table with"