The Zapatista Effect: Information Communication Technology Activism and Marginalized Communities

Abstract

This paper will demonstrate how access to relatively inexpensive Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has allowed marginalized communities to bypass traditional channels and agitate for political changes. Widespread ICT usage has allowed marginalized peoples not only to disseminate their views, but to build grassroots alliances with similarly minded groups. Access to ICT has allowed groups in countries such as Burma, China and Sudan the freedom to share information that may otherwise be suppressed. The ability to freely access and disseminate information is a considered a fundamental right in most free and democratic societies. In many countries, this principle fails to translate into reality. Many of the world’s governments actively constrain their citizens from information access to the commons. Marginalized groups are denied participation in decision-making processes and are ignored by traditional media. They often live in “ICT Poverty”, a state in which little information flows into or out of their communities. As a result, these peoples are denied their ability to benefit from their citizenship rights. Particular attention will be paid to indigenous groups such as the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, a largely Mayan group from the impoverished state of Chiapas, Mexico. The Zapatistas burst onto the scene in 1994 and used the Internet to build a trans-national solidarity network among human rights groups. The media spectacle they created forced the Mexican government to negotiate with Zapatista communities over issues such as land rights, compensation for resource extraction and indigenous political autonomy. Many other marginalized groups have used the Zapatista model to overcome social barriers and improve local conditions. Perhaps the most important use of ICT is to raise awareness and build relationships with advocates in other nations. The use of ICT by these groups can have a major impact on global coverage of events and help create public pressure to change policy. As information professionals, what are our responsibilities in regards to bridging the gap between Canadian libraries and marginalized peoples in the international community?