Zapotec renaissance : ethnic politics and cultural revivalism in southern Mexico

The Zapotec people of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico have defied stereotypes of poor, downtrodden, and exploited Mexican Indians by creating one of the most dynamic indigenous political and cultural movements in Latin America. Intensely proud of their history and culture, the Isthmus Zapotecs control many local political offices, run much of the local commerce, and enjoy a lively cultural movement. To a larger degree than is common in Mexico, Zapotec women enjoy equality with men and homosexuality is tolerated and accepted. The Zapotecs have formed a radical indigenous political movement--Coalicion Obrera Campesina Estudiantil del Istmo (COCEI)--whose victory in the 1981 municipal elections in Juchitan, Oaxaca, over the seemingly invincible Revolutionalry Institutional Party (PRI) marked the first time the leftist opposition had controlled a Mexican city since the Revolution. This book is about their history--both past and present--and how it is remembered, drawn upon, and created by contemporary Zapotec intellectuals and politicians and used as a weapon to organize the Zapotec people and to wrest control of their community from PRI. The Zapotec Indians, of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico, have defied stereotypes of the poor, downtrodden, and exploited Mexican Indians by creating one of the most dynamic indigenous political and cultural movements in Latin America. The Isthmus Zapotecs are intensely proud of their culture and history, control many local political offices, conduct much of the local commerce, and enjoy a lively cultural movement, which produces fine works of poetry, painting, and music. To a larger degree than is common in Mexico, Zapotec women enjoy equality with men and homosexuality is tolerated and accepted. The Zapotecs have formed a radical indigenous political movement - Coalicion Obrera Campesina Estudiantil del Istmo (COCEI) - whose victory in the 1981 municipal elections in Juchitan, Oaxaca, over the seemingly invincible Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI) was the first time the left opposition had controlled a Mexican city since the Revolution. The Zapotec people of Juchitan packaged their positive social status and strong ethnic identity in a millenarian vision of history celebrating military and political victories over other ethnic groups including the Aztecs, Spanish, French, and mestizo Mexicans. This book is about that history - both past and present - and how it is remembered, drawn upon, and created by contemporary Zapotec intellectuals and politicians and used as a weapon to organize the Zapotec people and to wrest control of their community from PRI.

"In this outstanding ethnography, Campbell explores how the construction of identity and the politics of ethnicity provide the Zapotec a sense of local power and independence. Focuses on the important role of indigenous intellectuals and the movement for local rule that has long consumed the community and its population"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 57.

Roots of Isthmus Zapotec ethnic politics (1350-1750) The emergence of Juchiteco resistance and rebellion (1750-1911) Capitalist transitions and Isthmus Zapotec society (1911-1993) Isthmus Zapotec intellectuals in the twentieth century: the politics and culture in Juchitán (1900-1970) From caciquismo to grassroots ethnic populism: the emergence of COCEI (1964-1981) Viva Juchitán libre!: the "people's government," impeachment, and COCEI'S return to power (1981-1993) Isthmus intellectuals, Zapotec history and culture, and COCEI'S ethnic ideology Conclusions.