Rafael Alarcon & Jorge Durand 
Return to Aztlan [PDF ebook] 
The Social Process of International Migration from Western Mexico

Return to Aztlan analyzes the social process of international migration through an intensive study of four carefully chosen Mexican communities. The book combines historical, anthropological, and survey data to construct a vivid and comprehensive picture of the social dynamics of contemporary Mexican migration to the United States.

Зміст

Preface 

1.

Introduction 

Migration as a Social Process 

Nature of the Study 

Plan of the Book 

2.

Study Design 

Questionnaire Design and Interviewing 

Sample Design 

Data Coding and File Construction 

Summary 

3.

A Profile of the Four Communities 

Geographic Setting 

A Demographic Profile 

A Socioeconomic Profile 

The Agrarian Economies of Altamira and Chamitlan 

Summary 

4.

Historical Development of International Migration 

The Macrohistorical Context 

Altamira: Microhistory of a Traditional Town 

Chamitlan: Microhistory of a Commercial Agrarian Town 

Santiago: Microhistory of an Industrial Town 

Guadalajara: A Different Historical Role 

Summary: International Migration in Comparative Perspective 

5.

Current Migration Patterns

Extent of Migration 

Characteristics of the Trip 

Demographic Background of Migrants

Socioeconomic Background of Migrants

Socioeconomic Selection of Migrants

Summary 

6.

The Social Organization of Migration

The Social Bases of Network Migration 

Development of the Networks 

Formation of Daughter Communities 

Case Studies of Network Migration 

Summary: Social Networks and Migration 

7.

Migration and the Household Economy

Strategies of Migration 

A Typology of Migrants 

Characteristics of Migrant Strategies

Case Studies of Migrant Strategies

Migration and the Life Cycle 

Migration and the Household Budget

Summary 

8.

The Socioeconomic Impact of Migration in Mexico 

Spending Patterns 

Housing 

Standard of Living 

Business and Employment 

Ownership and Distribution of Farmland 

Agricultural Production 

Conclusions 

9.

Integration in the United States

The Integration Process 

Personal Integration 

Social Integration 

Economic Integration 

The Effect of Legal Status 

Orientation to Mexico 

Case Studies of Integration 

Summary 

10.

Principles of International Migration

Methods of Analysis 

Steps in the Migration Process 

Summary 

11.

Conclusions

References

Index

 

Про автора

Douglas S. Massey is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Population Research Center at the University of Chicago. Rafael Alarcón and Humberto González are research investigators in social anthropology at Mexican graduate institution of the Colegio de Jalisco, as is Jorge Durand at the Universidad de Guadelajara.