Practicing autonomy: Zapatismo and decolonial liberation

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Zapatista rebellion in Chiapas has contributed to the construction of indigenous autonomy in Mexico, a process that shares similar features to the struggles of social movements throughout Latin America. This article examines how autonomy became a central demand for the Zapatistas, the practices that they have instituted, and the challenges they face. The analysis draws on recent debates over the political impact of indigenous movements, including the struggle for new models of post-liberal citizenship, the limitations of neoliberal multiculturalism, and the adoption of decolonial forms of resistance. The paper argues that Zapatismo can be understood as an expression of decolonial liberation in which autonomy is constructed through the recreation of social ties in local, national, and international spaces. In doing so, Zapatismo represents a political and theoretical shift that calls for greater attention to the processes and practices that can sustain autonomy.