The recognition of Indigenous rights and culture and the incompetence of the Mexican political system

Abstract

The change of government in December 2000 seemed to open a possibility to rethink the contents, forms and limits of political relations in Mexico. At this moment of redefinition the EZLN made its greatest bet on democracy: the March for Indigenous Dignity. The three branches of government, in different ways, refused to recognize the distinct existence of Indigenous peoples, restricting the scope of democracy even more than before. The article reviews possible scenarios for the immediate future.