The paradoxes of the zapatista movement in the contruction of peace: “the army born to eradicate armies”

Abstract

The present work is a summary of the principal ideas from the research paper of the same title that the author presented in 2009 to obtain the Advanced Studies Diploma in Peace Conflicts and Democracy from the Institute of Peace and Conflicts of the University of Granada. 
The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, EZLN) announced its intentions the Mexican society and the international community on 1 January 1994, when it declared war on the Mexican Government and army, with the taking of four important towns and cities in the southern state of Chiapas and the ensuing spread of the armed conflict to other municipalities in the area. The bloodiest fighting took place in the city of Ocosingo. The insurgent group subsequently went underground for more than a decade.

The present essay reflects on the Zapatista movement and its peace construction process, paying special attention to paradoxes faced its historical conduct, since to the extent that these are overcome, both the EZNL and Mexican society as a whole will have moved forward along the path towards longed for peace.