Reference:
Kleshchenko L.L..
The role of national symbols in the political protests: case of Mexico
// Politics and Society. – 2021. – ¹ 2.
– P. 1-7.
DOI: 10.7256/2454-0684.2021.2.36973.
DOI: 10.7256/2454-0684.2021.2.36973
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Abstract: This article explores the specificity of using national symbols in the political protests. The construction of the new meanings of national symbols by protest movements is viewed in the frame of collective memory. The goal of this research is to determine the peculiarities of involving unofficial national symbols in the protest discourse by the opposition political forces on the example of modern Mexico. It is demonstrated how the radical protest Neozapatismo movement uses the image of the country's national hero Emiliano Zapata for legitimizing the own agrarian program and rule in the state of Chiapas, as well as a resource for mobilizing the supporters of drastic agrarian reforms. The conclusion is made that due to such characteristics of national symbols as sacred nature, wide occurrence, recognition, they possess high mobilization potential, carrying out mobilization function in the political protests. It pertains to both, state symbols (flag, coat of arms, anthem) and unofficial symbols. National symbols can also be used by protest movements as a means of legitimation / deligitimation of authority. The author underlines that the use by political actors of national symbols, which may cause strong emotional response of the audience, should be considered as manipulative political technology.
Keywords: Emiliano Zapata, Zapatistas, political protest, state symbol, national symbol, symbolic politics, political symbol, Zapatismo, protest movement, Mexico
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