In 2006, the social insurrection in Oaxaca and its impact revealed a polyarchic system in Mexico that maintains hegemony over meanings of democracy. This legitimizes both further incorporation into an asymmetrical global capitalist system, and sanctions draconian policies against social movements dissenting against growing marginalization. Moreover, although the central demand of the APPO movement was to oust then-governor of Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz, their call for a radical transformation of Oaxaca's sociopolitical institutions proposed alternative concepts of democracy espoused by prominent subaltern social movements in Mexico. The APPO's takeover of the capital city of Oaxaca de Juarez presented a crisis of social stability and political legitimacy. Therefore, this project utilizes Robinson's theories of polyarchy and capitalist globalization a theoretical framework to piece together the conjunctures of crises in Oaxaca during and after 2006. Utilizing newspaper articles, primary sources of witnesses during this period, and on-field research conducted in Oaxaca I offer an ethnographic, sociological analysis of the APPO movement and its sociopolitical impact. Finally, this project suggests theoretical perspectives for understanding the possibilities for social movements to create radical social change.