Analysing the Conflict Resolution: The Example of Zapatista Movement

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the Zapatista conflict in Chipas, Mexico; in terms of the conflict analyze techniques. The history of the conflict illustrates that it is a need based conflict. At first glance, although the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional seems that they resist the neoliberal economic policies of Mexican government, the main motivation of the resisters is to reach food, water and energy sources. As a consequence, this paper claims that there is a need for applying more sophisticated conflict resolution techniques to solve the need based conflict.

Keywords: Chipas, Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN), Emiliano Zapata, Panco Villa, Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos, Mexico, NAFTA.