Many Latin American governments are more and more interested in obtaining some benefits from the fact that an increasing number of their citizens leave the country in search of better opportunities elsewhere. In the case of Mexico, David Hernández goes as far as to state that President Fox has virtually initiated an “emigrant hunt” in order to attract valuable foreign exchange.1 Looking at it from a migrant’s perspective, there has been a long tradition of maintaining families back home by means of remittances. Within this context of remittances, a new phenomenon has emerged during the last decade: Collective remittances for development projects, which are co-financed by migrant communities and the home state. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role Mexican Hometown Associations (HTAs) in the United States (US) play in terms of Mexico’s communal or regional development; by doing so, I will focus on the issue of collective remittances. Firstly, I will look at the purpose of Mexican HTAs and how they evolved over time; this will be followed by an analysis of the role of the Mexican government in establishing and maintaining contacts with HTAs and in performing joint projects such as fund-matching schemes for developmental purposes. Subsequently, I will analyse a case study that exemplifies such a fund-matching scheme: the “three-for-one” project of the Mexican state of Zacatecas. Lastly, I will examine the potential of transnational social movements in general and HTAs in particular with regard to the social, economic and political development of their home countries.
Table of Contents
1. Mexican Hometown Associations in the US
2. The Role of the Mexican Government
3. Case study: “Three-for-one” Programme in Zacatecas, Mexico
4. The Development Potential of Hometown Associations
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper analyzes the role of Mexican Hometown Associations (HTAs) in the United States regarding Mexico's communal or regional development, specifically focusing on the mechanism and impact of collective remittances and fund-matching schemes.
- Evolution and purpose of Mexican Hometown Associations in the US.
- The role of the Mexican government in establishing collaborative development projects.
- Analysis of the "three-for-one" fund-matching program in Zacatecas.
- Challenges regarding organizational structure, project implementation, and country-specific factors.
- The potential of transnational social movements for long-term socio-economic development.
Excerpt from the Book
Case study: “Three-for-one” Programme in Zacatecas, Mexico
The Zacatecan three-for-one scheme is one of the oldest fund-matching programmes and efforts are being undertaken in different Central American countries to copy its underlying principles. In this case-study section, I will analyse how the scheme has prospered since its inception in 1992, which problems have occurred and which proposals have been offered to make this and similar schemes more efficient.
Methodologically speaking, I draw on the analysis of documents, which I have collected mainly from the following sources: the Inter-American Dialogue, the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute as well as from the Autonomous University of Zacatecas (Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas).
Representatives of the Federation of Zacatecan Clubs in Southern California point out that the predecessor programme “two for one” came into being thanks to certain Mexican government officials, and that the main objectives were infrastructure improvements in their Mexican state and the maintenance of good relations among Zacatecans. The three-for-one programme began in 1997 with 300,000 dollars and one year later managed nearly five million dollars to support ninety-three projects in twenty-seven municipalities (Alarcón, 2002: 105); this represents a fifteen-fold increase in resources. At the end of the 1990s, the projects financed within this programme still had a strong focus on infrastructure improvements. This is indicative for the fact that basic needs had to be fulfilled before income-generating projects could be initiated.
Summary of Chapters
Mexican Hometown Associations in the US: This chapter introduces the phenomenon of collective remittances and explores how Mexican migrants formed informal organizations to maintain social and financial ties with their home regions.
The Role of the Mexican Government: This chapter examines how the Mexican state established institutional frameworks, such as PACME, to engage with migrants abroad and incentivize the flow of remittances for developmental purposes.
Case study: “Three-for-one” Programme in Zacatecas, Mexico: This section provides a detailed analysis of the Zacatecan matching-fund model, identifying its successes in infrastructure development and highlighting the organizational challenges involved.
The Development Potential of Hometown Associations: This chapter situates HTAs within the broader context of transnational social movements and evaluates their long-term potential for social, economic, and political change.
Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, emphasizing the importance of constructive cooperation between states and civil society while acknowledging the limitations and necessary future requirements for sustainable development.
Keywords
Hometown Associations, HTAs, Collective Remittances, Mexico, United States, Three-for-one program, Zacatecas, Development, Transnationalism, Migrants, Social Capital, Infrastructure, Fund-matching, Policy Effectiveness, Civil Society
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the role of Mexican Hometown Associations in the United States as emerging actors in development, specifically analyzing how they contribute to communal and regional development in Mexico through collective remittances.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work covers the evolution of migrant organizations, government-led fund-matching schemes, the impact of these projects on local infrastructure, and the potential of transnational movements to influence policy and development.
What is the main research objective?
The primary goal is to analyze the effectiveness of HTAs in driving development and to determine whether collaborative efforts between these groups and the Mexican government can serve as a sustainable model for regional improvement.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a document analysis approach, drawing upon research from the Inter-American Dialogue, the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute, the Autonomous University of Zacatecas, and various UN reports to substantiate the arguments.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body examines the history of Mexican migrant organizations, the institutional role of the Mexican state, a detailed case study of the Zacatecan "three-for-one" project, and an assessment of the developmental potential of transnational social actors.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include Hometown Associations, collective remittances, Zacatecas, three-for-one program, transnational social movements, development policy, and civil society cooperation.
What is the significance of the "three-for-one" project mentioned in the case study?
It is a tripartite fund-matching scheme where donations from migrant clubs are matched by state and federal government funds, significantly increasing the financial pool available for local development projects in Mexico.
Does the author believe that migrant associations can fully replace state responsibilities?
No, the author argues that these associations act as partners, and that a constructive, non-paternalistic cooperation between the state and migrant organizations is essential for effective, long-term regional development.
- Citation du texte
- Iris Schoenauer-Alvaro (Auteur), 2003, Mexican hometown associations in the US: Migrants as emerging actors in development, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/112836
