Dan La Botz is a long-time socialist activist, educator and writer. He was a founding member of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) and author of Rank-and-File Rebellion: Teamsters for a Democratic Union (1991) the same year as his manual, A Troublemaker’s Handbook: How to Fight Back Where You Work — and Win! was published. He has written books on Mexico, particularly its unions (and even a novel on Trotsky), and Latin America. His latest book is Radioactive Radicals: A Novel of Labor and the Left. See for more information.
La Botz is a member of Solidarity, DSA and on the editorial board of New Politics. For his article analyzing the AMLO administration in ATC 226, he would like to thank Jeff Hermanson, Daniela Spenser, and especially Dawn Paley for sharing their knowledge of Mexico with him. The opinions in the article are his own, as are any mistakes.
Adolfo Gilly: Three Remembrances
Los Angeles Is Burning & Global Warming Is Responsible
Why Socialists Must Defeat Trump
Against the Current No. 232, September/October 2024
AMLO's Mexico: Fourth Transformation?
Against the Current No. 226, September/October 2023
To the Working Class, 1969-1980
Against the Current, No. 219, July/August 2022
We Are All Ayotzinapa
Against the Current, No. 174, January/February 2015
Come, Let's say good-bye
Against the Current, No. 168, January/February 2014
Mexico in Labor's Crucible
Against the Current, No. 167, November/December 2013
Why the Revolt in Egypt?
Against the Current, No. 152, May/June 2011
U.S. Socialists and the Mexican Revolution
Against the Current, No. 149, November/December 2010
¡Viva la Revolución! Part 2
Against the Current, No. 148, September/October 2010
¡Viva la Revolución!
Against the Current, No. 147, July/August 2010
Miners Protest Brutal Beatings
Against the Current, No. 147, July/August 2010
Ohio Socialist Runs for U.S. Senate
Against the Current, No. 146, May/June 2010
Mexico's PATCO Moment?
Against the Current, No. 143, November/December 2009
Mexico at War
Against the Current, No. 137, November/December 2008
Review: On Marcos, Man and Mask
Against the Current, No. 130, September/October 2007
Brutality in Oaxaca
Against the Current, No. 126, January/February 2007
Dual Power or Populist Theater? Mexico's Two Governments
Against the Current, No. 125, November/December 2006
Mayhem, Murder and Manipulation - Mexico in Turmoil
Against the Current, No. 123, July/August 2006
Fighting for Union Autonomy: Mexican Miners On Strike
Against the Current, No. 122, May/June 2006
Snapshots of the Bolivarian Revolution
Against the Current, No. 119, November/December 2005
The Battle for Democracy in Mexico
Against the Current, No. 117, July/August 2005
Walt Sheasby: An Activist Life
Against the Current, No. 113, November/December 2004
Mexico in the Grip of Corruption
Against the Current, No. 110, May/June 2004
How Strikers Educated Miami University
Against the Current, No. 108, January/February 2004
Putting Democracy on Hold in Mexico
Against the Current, No. 104, May/June 2003
Cincinnati: Protest in the Heartland
Against the Current, No. 101, November/December 2002
Cincinnati After the Uprising
Against the Current, No. 92, May/June 2001
Mexico's New Political Era Begins
Against the Current, No. 92, May/June 2001
The New Movement for Global Justice
Against the Current, No. 88, September/ October 2000
An Experiment in Democracy
Against the Current, No. 78, January/February 1999
The Context for Autonomy
Against the Current, No. 74, May/June 1998
Mexico's Deepening Crisis (Part 2)
Against the Current, No. 66, January/February 1997
Mexico: Insurrection and Disintegration
Against the Current, No. 65, November/December 1996
Founding the Labor Party
Against the Current, No. 63, July/August 1996
Review: The CIO 1935-1955
Against the Current, No. 58, September/October 1995
Mexico: Zedillo Wins, the Struggle Continues
Against the Current, No. 53, November/December 1994
Rank-and-File Strategy Is Vindicated
Against the Current, No. 37, March/April 1992
Socialism from Below, Not the PDPA
Against the Current No. 19, March/April 1989
State, Party, Masses: Who Rules?
Against the Current No 7, January-February 1987