Dissertation Research: Migrant Voluntary Associations and Belizean Transnationalism

该项目涉及一位来自印第安纳州大学人类学学生的论文研究，研究志愿组织在伯利兹移民到美国的移民决策中的作用。 这位学生的假设是，移民组织比同化或加强族裔飞地更能促进跨国经济和社会联系。 假设是，积极参加移民组织的伯利兹人掌握着影响其流动模式的信息、经济和文化资源。 方法包括传统的人种学以及在芝加哥和伯利兹的正式调查、生活史的收集、深入访谈和参与观察伯利兹的组织和文化活动。 研究将在伯利兹城和芝加哥进行。 这项研究很重要，因为它将促进我们了解移民的动机和限制因素，因为他们可以利用实际的社会资源。 鉴于移民和跨国主义是当代社会生活的重要特征，该项目将创造的知识将是决策者和规划者以及学者的宝贵补充。

This project involves the dissertation research of an anthropology student from Indiana University, studying the role of voluntary organizations in the migration decision-making of immigrants from Belize to the US. The student's hypothesis is that migrant organizations facilitate transnational economic and social ties more than assimilation or the reinforcement of ethnic enclaves. The assumption is that Belizeans who are active participants in migrant organizations have at their disposal information and economic as well as cultural resources which influence their circulation patterns. The methodology involves traditional ethnography as well as formal surveys in Chicago and in Belize, the collection of life histories, in-depth interviews and participant observation at Belizean organizational and cultural activities. The research will take place in Belize City and Chicago. This research is important because it will advance our understanding of the motives and constraints of migrants in light of the actual social resources available to them. Given that migration and transnationalism are important features of contemporary social life, the knowledge this project will create will be a valuable addition for policy makers and planners as well as scholars.