Robbin Doering GEG 103
TITLE: The Story Behind the Conflict in Chiapas, Mexico
Assignment: LDC Atlas
REALM: Middle America
REGION: Mexico
THEME: Cultural Geography
VOCABULARY:
balkanized
centripetal force
Chiapas
colonization
cultural hearth
culture
devolution
GNP
market economy
Mesoamerica
nation-state
state
Since January 1, 1994, there has been a revolt in Chiapas, Mexico. There are several reasons for this revolt; however, I would like to give a brief overview of the state of Chiapas before going into detail of the revolt.
Within the country of Mexico there is a state called Chiapas. Chiapas is the most southern state of Mexico and shares a physical border with Guatemala. Its people are the descendants of one of the world's ancient cultural hearths, Mesoamerica. The terrain of Chiapas is very diverse as noted on Map A and Map B. These maps show the high elevation and heavy rain fall. Chiapas has three main regions. The central region, referred to as the Chiapas highlands, has a high elevation plateau with rugged terrain. The southwest region, referred to as the Pacific lowlands, is very fertile. And, to the east is the Lacandon jungle (Rosset). By looking again at Map B, you can see where the heaviest rain fall is and that is the jungle.
Chiapas was not always a state of Mexico. During the Spanish colonization, beginning in 1519, it was part of Guatemala. Eventually Chiapas gained its independence. After its independence it was annexed by Mexico. It is said that the people of the Chiapas highlands are culturally related to those in the Altiplano of Guatemala; both are descendants of the Maya people.
Within the state of Chiapas, the internet site for Mexican Languages listed 22 different languages spoken (Summer). On attachment C you will see a break down of the various languages along with a map showing the native languages spoken by at least half of the people (Map C). Though the breakdown of languages for all of Mexico may seem to represent a nation-state, this is not the case. Also, note the many different ethnic groups within all of Mexico (Map D), this also supports that fact that Mexico is not a nation-state but simply a State.
The Pacific lowland, because of its fertile soil, was the most prized land. The indigenous people of Chiapas, Mexico, were pushed off this land with the Spanish Conquest of 1519. They were forced to try to farm the highlands where the soil was very thin and rocky. Once the highlands became over populated, too much demand on the limited resources, the farmers of the highlands began to settle in the eastern region of the Lacandon jungle. Peter Rosset stated in his analysis of the revolt in Chiapas, "Together with the indigenous peoples of the neighboring state of Oaxaca, the lowland colonists and the destitute in the highlands were the poorest, most desperate people in Mexico." These people are mere farmers, not part of the urbanized Mexico. Even though Mexico's Gross National Product (GNP) per capita, according to Goode's World Atlas, is between US$2,000 - US$5,000, which is low to begin with (the United States has a GNP per capita of over US$10,000), the state of Chiapas is even less than that.
The actual oppression of the indigenous people of Chiapas, Mexico, started back with the Spanish Conquest and continues today. There is racism and divisions between the rich and the poor, which is common in a market economy. The highlands of Chiapas, where the people were forced to immigrate, is the source of 55% of Mexico's hydroelectric energy as shown in Map E (ITA). The distinction between the rich and the poor is evident in the distribution of the hydroelectric energy produced in Chiapas--only one third of the population receives the electricity. Now even the highlands of Chiapas, which seemed to be worthless to anybody but the poor indigenous people, is important to the country of Mexico. Also, in 1974 it was discovered that there is a huge oil deposit in the Chiapas-Tabasco region of southeastern Mexico. The indigenous Maya people have no safe place to go.
The revolt that began on New Year's Eve 1993 was one that brought the devastation of these indigenous people to the world's attention. The living conditions of these people were atrocious! Many lived in wood slat and mud houses; they cooked, cleaned, drank and dumped waste into the same dirty water; and, many of the children died from diarrhea, dehydration and tuberculosis. The deplorable conditions helped to create a centripetal force among these peoples. It was the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that went into effect January 1, 1994, that marked the start of the rebellion of the people. (They used this date to help attract all the publicity they could.) One of the rebels from the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) had this to say, "We have nothing to lose…no land, no work, poor health, no food, no education, no right to freely and democratically choose our leaders, no independence from foreign interests, and no justice for ourselves or our children." (Rosset). The rebels wanted land reform, better economic opportunities, more defined cultural identity, and local autonomy (de Blij).
And so the conflict that started in 1994 continues through today and into tomorrow. Will the state of Chiapas be balkanized? Not likely, considering the amount of wealth the land holds for the country of Mexico. Will the government of Mexico grant Chiapas some form of devolution? Again, not likely due to the one party democratic government. It appears as though this conflict will last as long as the rebel forces can keep their centripetal force in this unstable mountainous land.Outline
OUTLINE
I. Introduction
II. Physical location of Chiapas
III. History of Chiapas
IV. Culture of Chiapas
V. Economy of Chiapas
VI. Reasons for the revolt
VII. Conclusion
REFERENCES
Attachment C: Languages of Chiapas, Mexico:
Chiapaneco Chicomuceltec Chol, Tila, Chol, Tumbal Chuj, San Mateo Ixtatán Jacalteco, Western, Lacandón Mam, Northern Mocho, Tacaneco Tectiteco Tojolabal, Tzeltal, Bachajón Tzeltal, Highland Tzotzil, Chamula, Tzotzil, Chenalhó Tzotzil, Huixtán Tzotzil, San Andrés Larrainzar, Tzotzil, Zinacanteco Zoque, Copainalá Zoque, Francisco León, Zoque, Rayón
All Languages of Mexico:
Spanish 91%
Nahautl 2%
Yucatec 1%
Amerindian, other 6%
