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[TEASER] Mexico Pt. 2: Morena and The Fourth Transformation w/ Stephanie Weatherbee Brito

Dec 9, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Stephanie Weatherbee Brito, a popular educator and coordinator for the International People's Assembly, sheds light on the political landscape of Mexico. She unpacks the rise of Morena and the concept of the Fourth Transformation, connecting it to Mexico's historical shifts. Stephanie discusses the impact of neoliberalism on earlier revolutionary gains and the fragmentation of the left. She also contrasts Morena's reformist agenda with the Zapatistas' autonomy project, highlighting the complex dynamics of contemporary Mexican politics.
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INSIGHT

Pragmatic Avoidance Of Unwinnable Fights

  • MORENA strategically avoids fights with elites it cannot win, preferring gradual reforms over radical confrontations.
  • This cautious approach reflects fear of intervention or undermining by external actors like the U.S.
INSIGHT

Fourth Transformation As Citizen-Led Renewal

  • The Fourth Transformation frames MORENA's project as a peaceful continuation of Mexico's historic leaps toward sovereignty and equality.
  • Andrés Manuel López Obrador positions this change as citizen-driven, avoiding violent confrontation with entrenched elites.
INSIGHT

Neoliberalism As Counterrevolution

  • Mexico's post-revolutionary gains (land reform, education, oil nationalization, labor law) were later attacked by neoliberal counterrevolutionaries.
  • MORENA channels collective memory of those gains to contest neoliberalism and restore democracy.
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