book notes
Democracy in Mexico By Dan La Botz
IN TEN YEARS TIME, WE MIGHT LOOK BACK on the Chiapas Rebellion of January 1994 as the beginning of the end for Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). The Zapatista uprising, and the collapse of the peso in
December of that year undermined support for the PRI at home and abroad., creating an unprecedented crisis. We cannot be sure how or when the end will come. But if the progressive movement is unable to carry out a democratic transformation, we will see continued social disintegration, and maybe even a military coup.
This book was prompted by the Chiapas rebellion, but is not primarily about that uprising. It is rather an attempt to put the Zapatista revolt into the larger context of Mexican history and society. The focus is on the struggle for democracy, which, for La Botz, means not just free and fair elections, but human and civil rights, and the rights of labour.
Democracy in Mexico is an excellent introduction to the forces of "civil society" and their origins in Mexico's turbulent history. La Botz includes thumbnail sketches of the major figures in Mexican politics: from President Ernesto Zedillo to PRD leader Cuauthémoc Cárdenas and popular deputy Rosario Ibarra.
The book shows signs of being compiled hastily. Some materials could have been condensed. Other parts betray their journalistic origins. The author admits that this book is neither completely comprehensive nor precisely representative. But this is largely because of the ambitious task La Botz has set himself: to introduce us to the peasant revolt in Chiapas, the workers' movement in the maquiladoras of the northern border, the women's movement in Mexico City, and the citizens movement for civil rights and political reform.
Democracy in Mexico tells Mexican history from the point of view of those on the bottom. As the author explains, "the working class constitutes the all-important absent factor in present Mexican politics. Controlled by the PRI and its 'official' unions, faced with economic crisis and severe repression, workers have so far failed to create either independent unions or their own political party...The challenge from below- the struggle for democracy- continues to be driven by poverty and injustice. In the long run, the PRI's inability to overcome its continuing economic crisis will provide the motor that drives democratic opposition forces to struggle again and again to free themselves from the PRI and perhaps, too, from the domination of capital. The combination of a one-party state and an economic crisis will drive peasants to rebel, civil 30 International Viewpoint society to fight for reforms, and eventually force workers to fight back as well. When the working class enters the struggles of civil society, and allies itself with the demands of
Indian peasant rebels, the challenge from below may yet bring democracy to
Mexico." [AN]
Democracy in Mexico: peasant rebellion and political reform, by Dan La Botz. ISBN
0-89608-508-2: $35 (paperback, 1995).
South End Press, 116 Saint Botolph St.,
Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Living in
Jerusalem
An Assessment of Planning
Policy, Housing and Living Conditions in the Light of the
Palestinians' Right to
Adequate Housing
A Report by the Palestine Housing
Rights Movement to the UN
Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, May 1996
Contents:
A Executive Summary
A Letter from the UN Committee for
Social, Economic and Cultural Rights to the Government of Israel (21 May
1996)
A Legal Status vs. Politics
A Housing and Planning Policies:
Institutionalised Discrimination (with case studies)
A Residency, Separation and Services:
Living Conditions: Denial of residency rights; closure; building permits, taxes
(with case studies)
A Consequences of Israeli Policies:
Palestinian emigration; impact on children; inadequate housing
A Israeli Policies vs. International Law
A Recommendations for Action by the UN Committee for Social,
Economic and Cultural Rights
Annex 1: Jerusalem Declaration -
Draft Charter of the Palestine
HousingRights Movement
Annex Il: UN Security Council Resolutions on Jerusalem
To order, send a cheque for $15 or equivalent to the Alternative Information Center (AIC), PO Box 31417,
Jerusalem
© +972-2-241159, +972-2-740585
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E-mail: aicmail@trendline.co.il http://www.aic.org
Towards a
Europe!
Alternative with lots CoCence of demonstrations and other activi rIes • The Dutch Committee for a Different Europe invites you to take part in debates and actions for a social, green, democratic and feminist Europe. • Preparations for the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) are leading to the dismantling of public services and social security and rising unemployment in almost every EU member state. • the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) has begun: the fifteen member states are negotiating to revise the Maastricht Treaty, the treaty that has propelled the European Union into its current credibility crisis. According to plan, these negotiations are supposed to end with the signing of a new treaty by the heads of government during their June 1997 Amsterdam summit. • Together the EMU and IGC will largely determine the character of the European Union and thus the daily lives of Europe's citizens. discussion these developments is going on mainly among politicians. • There is no debate about the threats posed by European integration, plans for an EU defense bloc, and "Europeanisation" of the French and British nuclear arsenals. Our Europe must be a Europe that carries out a strong social and environmental policy creates jobs, eliminates the democratic deficit, offers equal opportunities to women and men, safeguards the rule of law, is hospitable to refugees, is open to the East and in solidarity with the South, disarms in order to contribute to peace, and promotes sustainable development both inside and outside Europe.
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