From Armed Struggle to Symbolic Politics: Left-Populist Repertoire in the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional

Lalu Ary Kurniawan Hardi; Fitri Jayitri  Iti Saibah; Aveny Raisa Maarif; Ahmad Idris Al-Hammad; Ryanta Septario Yudhananta

doi:10.21580/jpw.v8i1.31222

Authors

Lalu Ary Kurniawan Hardi Department of Political Science, Northern Illinois University, United States
Fitri Jayitri Iti Saibah Department of Politics, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
Aveny Raisa Maarif Department of Politics, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
Ahmad Idris Al-Hammad Department of Politics, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
Ryanta Septario Yudhananta Department of Politics, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21580/jpw.v8i1.31222

Keywords:

EZLN, Social Movement, Political Process Theory, Left- Populism

Abstract

The Zapatista movement (EZLN) is a radical leftist populist movement that frames the struggle of poor peasants and indigenous communities in Chiapas against state domination and neoliberal economic forces as a fight between "the people" and elites. Rejecting hierarchical power, the Zapatistas advocate for collective leadership, direct democracy, and self-government as alternatives to elitist structures. Their movement champions social justice, land rights, cultural identity, and local sovereignty as the core of their political struggle. This article aims to understand how EZLN mobilises its constituents using the framework of Political Process Theory and its relevance towards populist discourse. The Zapatista movement faced intense repression, militarisation, and state-led stigmatisation that portrayed them as violent, limiting their growth and support. Neoliberal policies like NAFTA worsened local poverty and harmed indigenous communities, fuelling the Zapatistas' resistance against economic and social injustice. In response, they built grassroots support through community engagement and gained solidarity from civil society. International networks of NGOs, activists, and human rights groups amplified their cause, pressuring the Mexican government to halt repression and revise harmful policies.

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