<![CDATA[The Zapatista movement (EZLN) is a radical leftist populist movement that frames the struggle of poor peasants and indigenous communities in Chiapas against state domination and neoliberal economic forces as a fight between "the people" and elites. Rejecting hierarchical power, the Zapatistas advocate for collective leadership, direct democracy, and self-government as alternatives to elitist structures. Their movement champions social justice, land rights, cultural identity, and local sovereignty as the core of their political struggle. This article aims to understand how EZLN mobilises its constituents using the framework of Political Process Theory and its relevance towards populist discourse. The Zapatista movement faced intense repression, militarisation, and state-led stigmatisation that portrayed them as violent, limiting their growth and support. Neoliberal policies like NAFTA worsened local poverty and harmed indigenous communities, fuelling the Zapatistas' resistance against economic and social injustice. In response, they built grassroots support through community engagement and gained solidarity from civil society. International networks of NGOs, activists, and human rights groups amplified their cause, pressuring the Mexican government to halt repression and revise harmful policies.]]>
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