The Other Campaign

The Other Campaign (Spanish: La otra campaña) is a political program by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation for the recognition and protection of indigenous rights and autonomy in Mexico.^[1] This program began in January 2006, and sent Subcomandante Marcos, the main spokesperson for the campaign, to travel across Mexico for several months.^[2] This tour was intended to create connections among the Zapatistas and pre-existing resistance groups throughout Mexico.

Throughout the campaign, the Zapatistas met with a diverse number of groups and organizations, such as trade union organizers, indigenous leaders, intellectuals, feminists and women's rights activists, advocates for human rights, students, environmental activists, fishermen, factory workers, natural disaster victims, peasants, teachers, prostitutes, and young people.^[2] Marcos said that the goal of the campaign is "not to speak or run for office, but 'to listen to the simple and humble people who struggle'."^[3] This united force was conceived to fight against neoliberalism and capitalism. The Zapatistas hoped to eliminate these practices in the Mexican federal government in order to protect the livelihoods of those citizens who are exploited economically by these institutions. Based on the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, the Other Campaign's ultimate goal was to force the Mexican government to agree to a convention which would rewrite the national constitution to include protection of indigenous rights and autonomy and exclude elements of neoliberal capitalism.^[4]

^ Mora, M. (2007). Zapatista anticapitalist politics and the "Other Campaign". Latin American Perspectives, 34(2), 64-77.
^ ^a ^b Marcos, S. (2006). The other campaign. San Francisco: City Lights Books.
^ http://www.indypendent.org/2006/01/12/zapatistas-launch-other-campaign/ "Zapatistas Launch ‘Other’ Campaign" by Ramor Ryan, The Indypendent, January 12, 2006 issue
^ Castillo, R. H. (2006). The indigenous movement in Mexico: between electoral politics and local resistance. Latin American Perspectives, 33(2), 115-131.

[othercampaign-1] Mora, M. (2007). Zapatista anticapitalist politics and the "Other Campaign". Latin American Perspectives, 34(2), 64-77.

[marcos-2] Marcos, S. (2006). The other campaign. San Francisco: City Lights Books.

[3] ttp://www.indypendent.org/2006/01/12/zapatistas-launch-other-campaign/ "Zapatistas Launch ‘Other’ Campaign" by Ramor Ryan, The Indypendent, January 12, 2006 issue

[castillo-4] Castillo, R. H. (2006). The indigenous movement in Mexico: between electoral politics and local resistance. Latin American Perspectives, 33(2), 115-131.

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