National Liberation Forces (Mexico)

National Liberation Forces
LeaderCésar Yáñez Muñoz
Foundation1969
Dissolved1974
CountryMexico
IdeologyMarxism
Marxism–Leninism[1][2]
Maoism[3]
Size130[4][5]
Preceded by
EIM
Succeeded by
EZLN

The National Liberation Forces (Spanish: Fuerzas de Liberación Nacional, FLN) were an insurgent group in Mexico. It was founded in 1969 by a group of young regiomontanos led by César Yáñez Muñoz, integrating the members of an old dissolved organization called the Mexican Insurgent Army.

One of FLN's leaders was Rafael Guillén, who became a leader within the group's successor, the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN).

Some EZLN leaders have argued that the vanguardist and Marxist–Leninist orientation of the FLN failed to appeal to indigenous locals in Chiapas, leading former members of the FLN in the EZLN to ultimately opt for a libertarian socialist and neozapatista outlook after interacting with local communities.[1][2]

  1. ^ a b Ross, Nicholas (1 May 2019). "Authority, Legitimacy, and Support for Armed Groups: A Case Study of the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional". Civil Wars. 21 (3): 8–9. doi:10.1080/13698249.2019.1604934.
  2. ^ a b Subcomandante Marcos (9 January 2018). The Zapatistas' Dignified Rage. AK Press. pp. 28–29. ISBN 9781849352925.
  3. ^ DeRouen, Karl (2005). Defense and Security: A Compendium of National Armed Forces and Security Policies. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. p. 475. ISBN 9781851097814. Peasant and Marxist activities in Chiapas dates from the post-1968 period, when the Maoist Fuerzas de Liberación Nacional began working with the indigenous leaders seeking land distribution.
  4. ^ Acosta Chaparro, Mario Arturo (January 1990). "Subversive Movements in Mexico". Secretariat of National Defense.
  5. ^ Center for Historical Research on Armed Movements.