Incorporation économique et participation transnationale : étude de la migration palestinienne à la ville de Guatemala
Even though they settled in one of the most inegalitarian countries in Latin America, Palestinian immigrants in Guatemala City have successfully managed to progress economically. Wholesale trade of textile products made their success possible, an economic activity mainly conducted in the 18th and 19th street and 6th avenue of Zone 1 (an urban-commercial zone dedicated to the sale of imported products). With the data collected from several Palestinian wholesale traders, I found that migrants have incorporated to the Guatemalan economic system through an “immigrant enclave” (Portes et Böröcz 1989; Portes et Manning 2013): they control a distinctive commercial niche (fabrics and clothing) and their stores are all located in the same geographical area. The success of their activities depends solely on their networks and the solidarity that prevails among members of the group.  At the same time their economic success has allowed them to carry out a variety of transnational practices (Itzigsohn et Giorgulli 2002). Palestinians build strong connections beyond the borders of Guatemala and contribute to the economic transformation of their homeland. As we will see, based on the case of the Palestinians, the social processes of economic incorporation and transnational participation are closely articulated with commercial activities. These processes can be sequential and are sometimes interdependent.
Migration Palestine Guatemala Anthropology History Economic incorporation Transnationalism Networks Latin America Middle East