Overview

The Zapatista movement and its leader Subcomandante Marcos have attracted enormous political and scholarly attention ever since their uprising began in Chiapas, Mexico, in 1994. The movement not only struck a chord inside the country as Mexico was switching to neoliberal economics and attaching itself to the USA in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but it rapidly evoked an extraordinary up-welling of political interest and solidarity in the Americas and worldwide. Thomas Olesen explores this phenomenon in the context of globalization and the networking and communications potential of the Internet. What is the infrastructure of the global Zapatista solidarity network? What activities has it engaged in? What enabled it to develop? What are the longer term implications for new kinds of political action and international solidarity? And what can social theory tell us about the new global patterns of social interaction that are emerging?

Full Product Details

9781842773864

Table of Contents

Reviews

'Thomas Olesen has done what many scholars and advocates entranced with the new transnational contention only talk about: he has mapped the international solidarity network formed around the Zapatista rebellion and pinpointed the crucial role of transnational actors and the Internet in it. The book is at once scholarly and passionate, well-informed and speculative, and will make a definitive contribution to our understanding of global social movements.' - Sidney Tarrow, author of 'Power in Movement' and co-author (with Doug Mcadam and Charles Tilly) of 'Dynamics of Contention'. 'International Zapatismo' is the first book-length case study of an international solidarity movement in the era of globalization. Olesen explains this new movement and, by implication, the global solidarity and justice movement more generally.' - Peter Waterman, author of 'Globalization, Social Movements and the New Internationalisms' 'Olesen's book offers a powerful case study examined through powerful theoretical lenses. Its empirical focus is the events during and after the 1994 Zapatista uprising in Mexico. Its rich theoretical framework combines ideas drawn from literatures on social movements, information technologies, globalization, and framing theory. As such, it will surely become a landmark in all these fields.' - James N. Rosenau, University Professor of International Affairs, The George Washington University 'A comprehensive, extremely analytical contribution to the literature on transnationalism and indigenous movements. This book provides valuable information about the mutual influence of grassroots activism and solidarity support networks. While capturing the particularity of the Zapatistas, this study frames their experience in larger global debates on neoliberalism and democracy.' - Alison Brysk, author of 'From Tribal Village to Global Village: Indian Rights and International Relations in Latin America' 'Thomas Olesen provides a superb account of the emergence and evolution of the transnational zapatista solidarity network. Through detailed empirical analysis and novel theoretical synthesis, the author effectively shows how people from very different places and cultures can forge common understandings that further the struggle for social justice and mutual solidarity on a global scale. Olesen masterfully charts the 'invisible continent' of transnational social action and provides his readers with a timely and stimulating analysis of the current challenges facing the Zapatistas and the Left more generally.' - Neil Harvey, New Mexico State University

Thomas Olesen has done what many scholars and advocates entranced with the new transnational contention only talk about: he has mapped the international solidarity network formed around the Zapatista rebellion and pinpointed the crucial role of transnational actors and the Internet in it. The book is at once scholarly and passionate, well-informed and speculative, and will make a definitive contribution to our understanding of global social movements. - Sidney Tarrow, author of 'Power in Movement' and co-author (with Doug Mcadam and Charles Tilly) of 'Dynamics of Contention'. International Zapatismo is the first book-length case study of an international solidarity movement in the era of globalization. Olesen explains this new movement and, by implication, the global solidarity and justice movement more generally. - Peter Waterman, author of 'Globalization, Social Movements and the New Internationalisms Olesen's book offers a powerful case study examined through powerful theoretical lenses. Its empirical focus is the events during and after the 1994 Zapatista uprising in Mexico. Its rich theoretical framework combines ideas drawn from literatures on social movements, information technologies, globalization, and framing theory. As such, it will surely become a landmark in all these fields. - James N. Rosenau, University Professor of International Affairs, The George Washington University A comprehensive, extremely analytical contribution to the literature on transnationalism and indigenous movements. This book provides valuable information about the mutual influence of grassroots activism and solidarity support networks. While capturing the particularity of the Zapatistas, this study frames their experience in larger global debates on neoliberalism and democracy. - Alison Brysk, author of 'From Tribal Village to Global Village: Indian Rights and International Relations in Latin America' Thomas Olesen provides a superb account of the emergence and evolution of the transnational zapatista solidarity network. Through detailed empirical analysis and novel theoretical synthesis, the author effectively shows how people from very different places and cultures can forge common understandings that further the struggle for social justice and mutual solidarity on a global scale. Olesen masterfully charts the 'invisible continent' of transnational social action and provides his readers with a timely and stimulating analysis of the current challenges facing the Zapatistas and the Left more generally. - Neil Harvey, New Mexico State University

'Thomas Olesen has done what many scholars and advocates entranced with the new transnational contention only talk about: he has mapped the international solidarity network formed around the Zapatista rebellion and pinpointed the crucial role of transnational actors and the Internet in it. The book is at once scholarly and passionate, well-informed and speculative, and will make a definitive contribution to our understanding of global social movements.' Sidney Tarrow, author of Power in Movement 'International Zapatismo is the first book-length case study of an international solidarity movement in the era of globalization. Olesen explains this new movement and, by implication, the global solidarity and justice movement more generally.' Peter Waterman, author of Globalization, Social Movements and the New Internationalisms 'Olesen's book offers a powerful case study examined through powerful theoretical lenses. Its empirical focus is the events during and after the 1994 Zapatista uprising in Mexico. Its rich theoretical framework combines ideas drawn from literatures on social movements, information technologies, globalization, and framing theory. As such, it will surely become a landmark in all these fields.' James N. Rosenau, The George Washington University 'A comprehensive, extremely analytical contribution to the literature on transnationalism and indigenous movements. This book provides valuable information about the mutual influence of grassroots activism and solidarity support networks. While capturing the particularity of the Zapatistas, this study frames their experience in larger global debates on neoliberalism and democracy.' Alison Brysk, author of From Tribal Village to Global Village 'Thomas Olesen provides a superb account of the emergence and evolution of the transnational Zapatistas solidarity network. Through detailed empirical analysis and novel theoretical synthesis, the author effectively shows how people from very different places and cultures can forge common understandings that further the struggle for social justice and mutual solidarity on a global scale. Olesen masterfully charts the 'invisible continent' of transnational social action and provides his readers with a timely and stimulating analysis of the current challenges facing the Zapatistas and the Left more generally.' Neil Harvey, New Mexico State University

'Thomas Olesen has done what many scholars and advocates entranced with the new transnational contention only talk about: he has mapped the international solidarity network formed around the Zapatista rebellion and pinpointed the crucial role of transnational actors and the Internet in it.' Sidney Tarrow, author of Power in Movement 'International Zapatismo is the first book-length case study of an international solidarity movement in the era of globalization.' Peter Waterman, author of Globalization, Social Movements and the New Internationalisms 'Olesen's book offers a powerful case study examined through powerful theoretical lenses.' James N. Rosenau, The George Washington University 'A comprehensive, extremely analytical contribution to the literature on transnationalism and indigenous movements.' Alison Brysk, author of From Tribal Village to Global Village 'A superb account of the emergence and evolution of the transnational Zapatistas solidarity network.' Neil Harvey, New Mexico State University

Author Information

Dr Thomas Olesen is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Aarhus in Denmark. He has published a number of scholarly articles and chapters in edited volumes on globalization and social movements.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available