Traditional Cultures And Globalization: The Case Of Indigenous Ethnies In The South Of Mexico

TRADITIONAL CULTURES AND GLOBALIZATION: THE CASE OF INDIGENOUS ETHNIES IN THE SOUTH OF MEXICO

CHRISTINE RENEAU BAZIN, a French National, this paper was presented for a class at Diablo Valley College (www.dvc.edu) located in the East Bay Area of San Francisco. Christine worked for 10 years at the Centro de Estudios Mexicanos y Centroamericanos (CEMCA) of the French Embassy in Mexico City,Christine is also a amateur photographer, see her photos at: www.picasaweb.google.com/christinereneau

General Overview of Globalization and Indigenous People in Mexico

Recent investments and projects by multinational corporations have been taken place in areas with large indigenous population in the south of Mexico. In January 2009, Mexican President Felipe Calderon inaugurated the largestwind-power project in Latin America, made possible by both Mexican and Spanish firms, in the state of Oaxaca by saying that projects like it will allow for the revitalization of an important area of Oaxaca..

While significant amounts of jobs and ongoing economic activity will result from this modernization project, issues such as the resulting displacement of poor farmers creates doubt as towhether this form of investment will truly be good to those it promises to benefit. Some critics mainly Mexican anthropologists have written about cultural lose and even ethnocide regarding the impact of these projects in the identiity of indigenous populations in Oaxaca and Chiapas, both states of Mexico with a wide number of ethnies. Zapotecos and Mixtecos in Oaxaca and Mayan groups in Chiapas, aMexican border state with Guatemala.

The mixed blessing of outside investment has mirrored other forms of economic development as a result of globalization. The rise of eco-tourism and popularity of indigenous art have undoubtedly brought about an increase in income, but often at a cost to culture and environment. In addition, other movements, such as fair trade and organic farming have hadpositive results for some segments of the Indigenous populations in the south of Mexico. However, multiculturalism has been a cultural choice promoted by the Mexican government but results do not give credit to this idea due to an assimilation process to the dominant culture.

Some policy makers in the government think their modernization policies are a primary innovation that will change traditionalpoverty in rural indigenous populations but for many critics of the Mexican academic world these policies are only a secondary innovation that promotes diffusion and aculturation that creates a new type of soft power vis a vis the cultural resistance of Mexican native people. The following examples show some additional modernization processes in Mexico that produces a wide range of culturalsyncretisms among indiigenous people that have to integrate to the new global integration of Mexico to internatioanl markets.

Some examples of Globalization and Indigenous responses in Mexico

Eco-Tourism

Tourism is a leading activity in Mexico and is the second source of revenues for Mexico after the remittances of Mexican working in the United States. While tourism has led to globalization inareas such as transportation, communications and financial systems, the benefits have often not “trickled down” or benefitted indigenous peoples. On the other hand, The Mexican government and large corporations, many of them global firms, claim that tourism will contribute to economic growth, conserve cultural heritage, protect indigenous rights and alleviate poverty. The major dilemma is thattourism incorporates people into the global economy, while a majority still remain poor and without access to productive resources according to many case studies arounf the worll d and Mexico is not the exception.

In addition, issues pertaining to environmental pollution, displacement, human rights abuses, unfair labor practices and the commodification of cultures have outweighed many gains...