From infrapolitics to open collective action in Mezquital Valley: January 5th movement in Ixmiquilpan, Mexico

Abstract

The January 5th movement during the early months of 2017 became the centre of collective actions against the liberation of the fuel market in Mexico. The open collective actions carried through, are part of a long-term social movement into Mezquital Valley, whose objective is the autonomy against external interference because of hñahñu (the way in which the Otomí population of the Mezquital Valley calls itself) communities of the region, adhered to the collective memory. Their strategy, since the post-revolutionary period, has been infrapolitics, where the reached development level allows to make open collective actions, but does not propose new ways into social relationships. The final result of the collective actions, when proposed goals are not accomplished, show some limitations of the movement. The article aims to present an interpretation of the movement from the epistemology of the south, making the historical process of development of the movement visible. The method used was of qualitative nature, a bibliographical review was carried out; participant observation was also carried out in the assemblies and fifteen interviews were applied to representatives of the communities.