There are many examples around the world of formal decolonization (a.k.a. flag independence). Among the incredible violence that comes before this event, the creation of a formal nation’s borders by colonial powers has led to bloodshed and upheaval. Throughout this course, we have seen the tension between regional powers\/community sovereignty and centralized, urban power and this week is no exception.<\/p>\n
When colonial powers withdraw physically from colonies, they are often the ones who decide the borders of the new nation state that is left in the imperial power’s physical absence (I use the term ‘physical’ absence because the process of decolonization is evidently not complete at this point). This often leads to sovereign and distinct nations being forced to live together within borders, leading to tensions. On top of this, these sovereign nations are now ruled under an alien political structure where control of their community is held in centralized government in a far-away and disconnected urban capital.<\/p>\n
From this, we can better understand the Caudillo\u00a0<\/em>phenomenon, and how local communities were not so eager to adopt liberal, centralized politics that would have put power into the hands of elites who were very far removed from them (both in terms of class, priorities, and geography).<\/p>\n This week, we can also see how this imposed governance structure contributed to the Mexican Revolution. The\u00a0Plan de Ayala’s\u00a0<\/em>propositions are interesting because they give us an insight into the shortcomings of the government and the realities of the people who were led to take up arms and leave their communities to be a part of the Zapatistas:<\/em><\/p>\n Through their demands, we are able to see the ways in which Madera failed to bring democracy to the people of Mexico. We are also able to see how they felt the\u00a0pueblos\u00a0<\/em>were not given enough sovereignty, and landowners’ rights under Madera.<\/p>\n While, of course, there are many factors that lead to revolution, it is important to acknowledge the continuing role colonialism has had on the subsequent governance and struggles in Latin America.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are many examples around the world of formal decolonization (a.k.a. flag independence). Among the incredible violence that comes before this event, the creation of a formal nation’s borders by colonial powers has led to bloodshed and upheaval. Throughout this … Continue reading