CHIAPAS Revolt in Mexico

This research examines the revolt of the Mayas in Chiapas State in Mexico in 1994 within the context of international conflict resolution. The paradigmsrealist, structuralist, and globalistof international conflict resolution theory are defined, and the actors in the Chiapas action are evaluated within the contexts of these paradigms.

There are several approaches to the assessment of international political relations. One approach posits that cultural traditions provide the best basis for understanding motivations for policy (Skidmore and Smith, 1989, p. 9). A second approach is based in the contention that political outcomes are linked to socioeconomic causes (p. 9).

A third alternative is the approach holding the world, imperfect as it is from the rational point of view, is the result of forces inherent in human nature (Morgenthau, 1988, p. 3). This alternative perception holds further that the conduct of international relations must, therefore, be realistic, must accept human nature as it actually is, and must deal with political processes as they actually occur. The theory of political realism holds that international relations is the concept of interest defined in terms of power. Political realism does not require, nor does it condone indifference to political ideals and moral principles, but it does requires a sharp distinction between the desirab

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revolt of the Mayas in Chiapas State (Nusser, 1994, p. A26). The government accepted the realist proposition that interest was defined in terms of power. The Mexican government was confronted with the Chiapas Revolt in the wake of the American ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Opposition to the Agreement in the United States was strong, and the Mexican government was not prepared to take any action that might jeopardize the American action on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Political realism does not require, nor does it condone indifference to political ideals and moral principles, but it does requires a sharp distinction between the desirable and the possible (Morgenthau, 1988, p. 7). The Mexican government likely would have preferred to have quashed the Chiapas rebels. Such action, however, would have compromised the international position of Mexico, an outcome that the Mexican government was not willing to accept. Political realism holds that universal moral principles cannot be applied to the actions of states in their abstract universal formulation, but that they must be filtered through the concrete circumstances of time and place (p. 10). The realist approach was adopted by the Mexic
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Kenneth Waltz, Catholic Church, Skidmore Smith, Agreement Political, Chiapas Mayan, Chiapas Mexico, Amnesty International, University Press, Chiapas Actors, Mexico's Chiapas, international relations, 1994 november, mexican government, conflict resolution, international conflict, international conflict resolution, political realism, --- 1994 november, morgenthau 1988, --- 1994, conduct international, moral principles, conduct international relations, roman catholic church, globe mail toronto,
Approximate Word count = 1724
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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