The Impact of Gandhian Praxis on the Mexican Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN)

Abstract The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) opposed NAFTA, viewing it as a near-fatal threat to the region’s indigenous populations. The organization shifted its strategy significantly after its initial conflict, focusing on political dialogue, struggle, and peaceful resistance to pursue autonomous self-governance. The study has utilized descriptive and exploratory methodologies to explain how the Zapatistas, independent of the Mexican government, adopted Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance and his comprehensive constructive program as the core ideology of their movement. This study aligns with Gandhi’s principles and analyses the Zapatistas’ self-governing institutions responsible for justice, education, healthcare, and economic development. The movement’s principles closely align with Gandhian ideology through their common focus on self-reliance (Swadeshi), moral persuasion (Satyagraha), and decentralised self-governance (Gram Swaraj). The Zapatistas also effectively used the internet to build global solidarity, support networks for their autonomy, and organize resistance against government oppression. The movement has made significant progress by strengthening its organizational structure and autonomous territories, emphasizing civilian protection during regional conflicts, and launching international dialogue initiatives, such as the “Journeys for Life” movement from 2019 to 2025. It serves as a notable example in the fields of global justice and indigenous rights that the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence remains a powerful tool for resisting neoliberalism and colonial autocracy.