Zapatistas, Mayan Visions, noble savage, etc.

[cuito61@xxxxxxxxxx]

While doing research on the signifigance of ethnic identity to the Zapatista 
movement, I?ve struggled with the question(s) of how (whether) ethnic identity 
shapes or influences the ideology, structure, and tactics of the Zapatistas and 
the challenge they pose to both the Mexican state and neoliberalism.

I?ve looked at June Nash?s well-written book ?Mayan Visions: The Quest for 
Autonomy in an Age of Globalization,? and she basically says a lot of things 
along the lines of ?Zapatista political discourse reflects indigenous reality? 
or that the Zapatistas/Maya have a different ?logic? that is opposed to the 
?logic? of neoliberalism, or that ?Zapatista democracy responds to Mayan 
traditions.?

One review states that
"Nash views the Zapatista Rebellion as one expression of the Maya's attempts to 
remain true to their culture in the face of the extraordinary changes taking 
place in Mexico today. At issue here are the competing influences of Western 
modernity and the cultural traditions of the Chiapas"

While this is somewhat helpful, how much of this is just sliding down the slope 
toward a sort of over-idealization and ?noble savage?
characterization?

Nash does provide some material basis for these claims by stating that 
neoliberalism causes ?deculturation? (loss of symbolic and material refrence 
points to cultural identity, i.e. land and collective farming), which then 
makes the ?Mayan people? inherently
opposed to neoliberalism.

Thoughts?  Reactions?  Any links to good reviews of Nash?s work or any on a 
similar topic?

-Marc R.



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