"This thesis endeavors to explain the Ejercicio Zapatista para Liberacion Nacional's (EZLN's) by paying attention to the historical and linguistic traditions that they embody. This is done by approaching the Zapatista uprising in the terms of their rebellion, by paying attention to the historical and linguistic forces have given shape to how the world has viewed it. In order to accomplish this I view the EZLN's writings through the hermeneutic method of interpretation. Secondly, the availability of information communication technologies (ICTs) allowed the Zapatista uprising to be viewed by non-state actors within and without Mexico. Furthermore the language used by the EZLN allowed other groups to respond in a positive manner to its cause. This circumvented the ability of the Mexican government to respond to the EZLN and gave the rebellion support from inside Mexico and from the global community. This has served to create a new sort of ""imagined community,"" akin to that theorized by Benedict Anderson."