UC Merced

This study is about the migration of young men from the town of Oxkutzcab in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico who against historical and contemporary structural conditions (Maya versus nation-state, globalizing of local economy, world system and free trade agreements) have chosen international migration as a strategy for survival and success. The purpose of this research is to illustrate the fundamental role of circular migration to and from San Francisco, California and Oxkutzcab, Yucatan, and dependence on transnational social ties. Field work was conducted in San Francisco, California, in 2004, followed by field work in Oxkutzcab, Yucatan, in 2005. Historically, migration within the state of Yucatan is not new. A brief historical background underlines the point that interstate migration as a result of wars, and later economic restructuring, can be regarded as a step-side to international migration. In addition, this work examines migration theory to understand the dynamics of contemporary international migration.