The culture of Mexican migration

Abstract

In an attempt to develop a definition of the Mexican ‘culture of migration’, the long history of migration within Mexico and across the US—Mexico border is summarized and definitions of culture explored. It is found that internal migration within greater Mexico has been common since at least the time of the Conquest. The culture of Mexican migration is seen to rest on attitudes and norms sanctioning the maintenance of reciprocity networks, the establishment of compadrazgo relationships, and the furtherance of religious practices, all of which aid migrants, first, to migrate and, second, in their adaptation at their destination.