But the case of the Zapatistas is legitimately different compared to Cuba and it is very relevant because the model the Zapatistas followed would never be applicable for them.
Because they'd be squashed immediately, and a large and more urban society with much more internal homogeneity than the Zapatistas wouldn't be able to follow the same kind of strategy as the Zapatistas either way, since with the Zapatistas the main driving force wasn't class conflict between the same society, it was an oppressor external to the society (Mexico) which means they didn't have to deal with the same degree of internal issues. The thing is, Mexico doesn't care nearly as much for the Zapatistas as the US did for Cuba. The only reasons Cuba survived were because of their close alliance with the USSR which was guarding them and their robust militarization. Cuba was a place of great geopolitical importance during the Cold War, because not only was it a huge source of profit for Casinos and hotels, but also it was a key area which the USSR could utilize against the US, unlike the Chiapas which is just some place in the jungle. Beyond the many assassination attempts against leaders, embargos and and attempts at destabilization, the US actually did literally invade Cuba post revolution, which built up to a huge missile crisis. Thing is, the Zapatistas don't really care for industrialization or any of that stuff, and they are not a real geopolitical threat for anyone. Mexico is content with mostly just leaving them be as an autonomous area (tensions aside). That is not consistent with the situation in Cuba.
I'm being sincere when I say this, but you keep sort of dismissing the zapatistas as basically "irrelevant jungle people" and that feels like you're kinda teetering on racism. I don't think its intentional or anything, but I'd encourage you to just try and do better with it going forward.
as for your main point, I don't really see the proof it couldn't work. I think its fair to say its less likely, but I still think its unfair to say it wasn't even possible.
but you keep sort of dismissing the zapatistas as basically “irrelevant jungle people” and that feels like you’re kinda teetering on racism
That's what you are imagining. The Chiapas is simply not an interesting place geopolitically. It has nothing to do with racism, or with the Zapatistas in particular. They're just not populous enough or in a critical enough area for them to be as big a threat as Cuba was.
as for your main point, I don’t really see the proof it couldn’t work
Why do you think it WOULD work? Has it ever worked that way? You can just look at the conflicts between the Zapatistas and the Mexican government and compare them to the revolution in Cuba and the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the massive internal conflicts Cuba had to straighten out, as well as the class nature of the society in the Chiapas compared to that in Cuba during the time of the revolution. The Zapatistas don't have a lot of infrastructure (that's kind of the point behind their rebellion, they do not WANT a lot of industrial development because it goes contrary to their way of life), they have little modern equipment, little organization in their military, and they just rely on social cohesion and Mexico not being interested enough in a large organized invasion. Cuba can't rely on any of these things.
Navies and air force don't exist.
air forces notoriously couldn't possibly fly over the zapatistas
Are you saying the US would invade Mexico just to fuck with the Zapatistas for some reason?
no I'm saying its silly to play a game of "which leftist place I'll never go to is having a harder time surviving"
But the case of the Zapatistas is legitimately different compared to Cuba and it is very relevant because the model the Zapatistas followed would never be applicable for them.
why wouldn't it be applicable?
Because they'd be squashed immediately, and a large and more urban society with much more internal homogeneity than the Zapatistas wouldn't be able to follow the same kind of strategy as the Zapatistas either way, since with the Zapatistas the main driving force wasn't class conflict between the same society, it was an oppressor external to the society (Mexico) which means they didn't have to deal with the same degree of internal issues. The thing is, Mexico doesn't care nearly as much for the Zapatistas as the US did for Cuba. The only reasons Cuba survived were because of their close alliance with the USSR which was guarding them and their robust militarization. Cuba was a place of great geopolitical importance during the Cold War, because not only was it a huge source of profit for Casinos and hotels, but also it was a key area which the USSR could utilize against the US, unlike the Chiapas which is just some place in the jungle. Beyond the many assassination attempts against leaders, embargos and and attempts at destabilization, the US actually did literally invade Cuba post revolution, which built up to a huge missile crisis. Thing is, the Zapatistas don't really care for industrialization or any of that stuff, and they are not a real geopolitical threat for anyone. Mexico is content with mostly just leaving them be as an autonomous area (tensions aside). That is not consistent with the situation in Cuba.
I'm being sincere when I say this, but you keep sort of dismissing the zapatistas as basically "irrelevant jungle people" and that feels like you're kinda teetering on racism. I don't think its intentional or anything, but I'd encourage you to just try and do better with it going forward.
as for your main point, I don't really see the proof it couldn't work. I think its fair to say its less likely, but I still think its unfair to say it wasn't even possible.
That's what you are imagining. The Chiapas is simply not an interesting place geopolitically. It has nothing to do with racism, or with the Zapatistas in particular. They're just not populous enough or in a critical enough area for them to be as big a threat as Cuba was.
Why do you think it WOULD work? Has it ever worked that way? You can just look at the conflicts between the Zapatistas and the Mexican government and compare them to the revolution in Cuba and the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the massive internal conflicts Cuba had to straighten out, as well as the class nature of the society in the Chiapas compared to that in Cuba during the time of the revolution. The Zapatistas don't have a lot of infrastructure (that's kind of the point behind their rebellion, they do not WANT a lot of industrial development because it goes contrary to their way of life), they have little modern equipment, little organization in their military, and they just rely on social cohesion and Mexico not being interested enough in a large organized invasion. Cuba can't rely on any of these things.