1 The Zapatistas and the Capitalist Hydra: TheoƌiziŶg aŶd ‘espoŶdiŶg to MedžiĐos Cƌisis Stuart Schussler, M.A. Stuart Schussler is a doctoral student in the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University, where he studies soĐial ŵoǀeŵeŶts aŶd autoŶoŵLJ. He ƌeĐeiǀed his ŵasteƌs degƌee fƌoŵ FLAC“O- Ecuador. Abstract: The disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students is exemplarLJ of MedžiĐos Đƌisis, ǁhiĐh is ƌooted iŶ fundamental, global contradictions of capitalism outlined by David Harvey. In this article, I respond to the )apatistas suggestioŶ to see Đapitalisŵ as the ŵaŶLJ-headed Hydra, which I use to argue that capitalism is ǁaƌ. MedžiĐos ǁaƌ oŶ dƌugs pƌoǀides a histoƌiĐal edžplaŶatioŶ of hoǁ this has Đoŵe to ďe, as it was the end of a period of class compromise and expanded reproduction, transitioning towards the fusion of government, military, and licit and illicit business in pursuit of accumulation by dispossession. Clearance and re-ordering of territory and hyperexploitation through terror are the ways the war on drugs achieves this. In these ways the apparent failure of the war on drugs has been a success for accumulation by dispossession. I conclude by arguing that Zapatista autonomy is a strategic inspiration for how to respond to capitalism as war by building freedom.