This book provides an insider’s account of the largest social movements in Mexico from 2008 to 2018. It is, thus, a contribution to contemporary Mexican history. In the case studies of the first part of the book, Díaz Cepeda deftly uses North American and European theorists to explain the general relevance of understanding these movements. In its second part, he uses contemporary Latin American philosophy, particularly that of the erudite Mexico-Argentinean philosopher Enrique Dussel, to analyze these movements. Unlike many works of philosophy that are largely theoretical, Díaz Cepeda conducted interviews with key activists and conducted participatory ethnography. The book presents ample evidence of the counterproductive effects of the armed war on drugs and its negative impact on innocent civilians. This book is a recommended text for Latin Americanists, and social movements scholars in the humanities and the social sciences.

Ernesto Castañeda, Director, Immigration Lab, American University

This is a groundbreaking book. Díaz Cepeda illustrates with an almost unprecedented clarity the “theory-meets-praxis” spirit of the Latin American philosophical tradition. He does so by analyzing, from the ground up, two of the most pressing political challenges of contemporary Mexico: the Ayotzinapa tragedy and its turbulent aftermath, and popular opposition to military violence in Ciudad Juárez’s infamous “war on drugs.” Social Movements and Latin American Philosophy will be of great interest to scholars and activists who are interested in Latin American affairs and the ethics of social movements on a global scale. It’s not to be missed!

Amy Reed-Sandoval, University of Nevada

Díaz’s book invites us all to think deeply about how to begin to transform the world. How can we go about creating a transmodern state? I think Díaz is right to point out that social movements play an essential role in these processes. SMO’s have to play multiple roles beyond simply the state. It must work with the Westernized university’s global structure as a critical learning community, with sports in ways that redirect its function as a mere diversion, news media outlets and other popular culture institutions.

Inter-American Journal of Philosophy