Grassroots in San Cristobal de las Casas: Sna Jtz'Ibajom and Zapatistas

3. Support for housing, health, education, recreation, communication, and other necessities for overcoming cultural marginalization. The Zapatistas demanded services equivalent to those accorded to other communities and towns throughout the republic, such as electricity, potable water, sewage, roads, telephone communication, recreational centers, and sports facilities.

Although the objectives of the social action of Sna Jtz’Ibajom and the Zapatista movement may paralell each other in many ways, in the practice of “to reproduc[ing] or reconfigur[ing] a vision of the order of power in the world” (Bell’s redemptive hegemony) (83), the two differ greatly. It is, in fact, the practice of redemptive hegemony (as one element) that separate the two within the broad field of social action. The actions of one is acceptable to the status quo; the other is a struggle for independence and a rejection of the existing system.

Violence that accompanies revolutionary action can also be analyzed within the field of social action and performativity. Joseph Roach has suggested that “violence is the performance of waste.” (41) Here he is bringing forth notions of “Bataillian ‘unproductive expenditure’.” He concludes that “violence is performative, for the simple reason that it must have an audience— even if that audience is only the victim, even if that audience is only God.” (41) This is not dissimilar to what was identified during the war in Bosnia as viewing genocide through “television eyes,” in part an intellectually reaction to perceived inactivity and ineffectiveness of peace efforts. In fact when analyzing revolutionary action, it is helpful to include violent activity in the realm of social action, as it stresses the interaction of all elements and metaforces at work. Violence or potential violence is another way sociopolitical movements in Chiapas can be distinguished.

Conclusion

The work of analysis in this paper is reflective of other on-going processes in the wide, wide, world. Such revolutionary movements as that in Chiapas can create atmospheres that are difficult for research by outsiders, and much learning remains to be gained from knowledge that has come with such a large social movement. June Nash’s book proved to be a highly informative source about recent history making in San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Sna Jtz’Ibajom is continues to be an operating unit of performance culture or cultural performance. There is incredible potential for research within this vein of studying the history of social action in Chiapas. Ritual theory is applicable to the analysis of grassroots theatre, as grassroots movements are cultural in nature and attempt to create community. The Writers’ Collective is an example of the micro- and the macro- intertwining and inter-relating. Comparing Sna Jzt’ Ibajom with larger, revolutionary movements creates a picture of history and culture at work within the field of social action and social drama. (V. Turner)

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