Community Organization, Migration, and Remittances in Oaxaca

Abstract

Abstract: Researchers studying migration aud development have argued over the potential that migration and associated remittances have to improiie the economic and social conditions in origin communities. Past research on migration from indigenous communities in Oaxaca has similarly questioned tlie compatibility of traditional governance systems with high migration rates. We argue, using evi-dence from four Zapotec commmiitii's in rural Oaxaca, tliat communities can use the organizational capacity of traditional goz'ernauce system.' ^ to access remit-tances from migrants for the benefit ofthe community as a xvhole. Communities can require payment from migrants in lieu of communal labor requirements ftequioj and may directly solicit retnittances from migrants for eomnmnity projects. The extent to which they enforce these requests depends on the existing organizational strength in the community. These findings imply that strong forms ofcommuttity organization can make the difference between migration contribut-ing to underdevclopmcnt and migration contributing to development. Remittances are an important source of income for households and communities in Mexico, aiid comprise an enormous aggregate transfer of money from the United States into Mexico (Inter-American Development •Acknowledgements: The authors express thanks to Lilian Marquez-Barrientos and Ever Canul G6ngora for their invaluable assistance in the coiiection of data. They thank the LARR editors and reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions, in addition, they appreciate the similarly valuable comments offered by George Alter, Tim

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