Renaissance in the Zapatista Mayan World

Abstract

Founded in 1983 in rural Mexico, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) marked a watershed in terms of indigenous self-defense. The Zapatista struggle set a precedence for those embarking on a process of community policing, legitimized indigenous demands, and created a template in which community security and justice were key. Yet the EZLN’s rise also led to its being targeted by government-backed organizations such as the Cioac-H, which assassinated a Zapatista leader in 2014.