Re: [PEN-L:3152] Aztecs or migration

["Anthony D'Costa" <dcosta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There are all sorts of reasons for migration, not simply the lure of the
cities not simply to get away from oppressive rural conditions.
Capitalist agriculture is perhaps the most important factor for migration
in a typical developing country.  Population pressure, access to
education, rising incomes, industrialization are also contributory
factors.  Different parts of the world exhibit different rates of
migration and the pull and push factors vary as well.  South Asia remains
rural mostly compared to Lat Am.  Migrants in S Asia are mainly males
compared to Lat Am or parts of Africa.  Caste oppression could be evaded
by migration from a village but it is no guarantee that the urban
environment is any better.  The structure of domination for migrants is
often reproduced in the cities.  However, social mobility is relatively
greater with greater "freedom" from the rural oppression exercised by
landlord class and their political clients in the state apparatus.
Peasant societies still exist in the twenty-first century, different in
form because of capitalist agriculture, but many are outside the orbit of
capitalism.

For references:

SEE:  Gugler and Gilbert; Jeremy Seabrook.

Anthony P. D'Costa
Associate Professor
Comparative International Development
University of Washington
1900 Commerce Street
Tacoma, WA 98402, USA

Phone: (253) 692-4462
Fax :  (253) 692-5612