How Are the Zapatistas Not Anarchists?

[727Goon]

It seems like if you talk to a lot of leftists about the EZLN they'll say they aren't anarchist. While it is true that they aren't specifically anarchist, I think that their communes are a pretty good example of an anarchist society in practice on a small scale, and I don't think Zapatismo as an ideology is incompatible with Anarchism, it seems more like just an Anti-Imperialist ideology that most anti-authoritarian leftists can agree with.

[Nachie]

You could just as easily ask, "how are the Zapatistas not communists?"

In some ways they transcend rigid ideological definition and in others they are just a practical expression of the legitimately revolutionary urge that we all feel, which is why so many different groups have rallied to support their cause. The important thing is that they are anti-authoritarian.

[Agnapostate]

I can't say that I've ever seen a detailed (certainly not an academic) exposition of the internal nature and function of Zapatista-controlled regions and municipalities.

[Nachie]

I can't say that I've ever seen a detailed (certainly not an academic) exposition of the internal nature and function of Zapatista-controlled regions and municipalities.

Here ya go!

http://libcom.org/library/commune-chiapas-zapatista-mexico

:D

[Agnapostate]

Here ya go!

http://libcom.org/library/commune-chiapas-zapatista-mexico

:D

Yes, I've read that sort of summary (though I don't remember that specifically), but do you know of anything in a peer-reviewed scholarly, preferably economic journal, something like Jaroslav Vanek's positive expositions on Yugoslav workers' self-management?

[Nachie]

Honestly as far as scholarly economic journals I don't think you can do much better than Aufheben, and I've never seen a better article on the Zapatistas anywhere.

[The Hong Se Sun]

The EZLN has been called many things by many different people. They are not actually plain anarchist. But they could be described as anarcho-syndicalist or anarcho-communist or council communist. As Nachie said the reason the enjoy so much support from the worlds left movement is they are different.

[Steve_j]

Too lazy to look myself, but Harry Cleaver and John Hollway spring to mind, have a dig through their work.