How does an occupation movement become a political force capable of taking power?
This book explores Mexico’s 2006 mass encampment in Mexico City—an unprecedented 48-day protest sparked by a contested presidential election. From this occupation emerged new mobilisations against privatisation and inequality, reshaping the Mexican left and paving the way for electoral victories in 2018 and 2024. Drawing on long-term fieldwork, the book traces activist networks, grassroots organising, and innovative repertoires of action, offering insights into how movements transform into enduring political parties. Through the stories of key figures, including Claudia Sheinbaum and Andrés Manuel López Obrador, it provides a human and sociological account of political commitment, revitalising debates on occupations and social movements worldwide

Hélène Combes is a CNRS Research Professor and member of the Center for International Studies (CERI-Sciences Po/CNRS). Previous editor of the journal Critique internationale. Revue comparative de sciences sociales (Presses de Sciences Po, 2017-2023), her research focuses on Mexican politics, political parties and social movements.