Complete Thesis_double spaced abstract.pdf

A Framework for Economic Development, State Sponsored Violence, and Migration:
Guatemala 1950-1995
The purpose of this case study is to determine whether the framework developed out of
the migration literature explains and correctly predicts the events and forces which influence
migration patterns in Guatemala (1950-1995). The framework developed out of the migration
literature is depicted in figure 6.1 and is described below in table 6.1.
Table 6.1
Framework Framework Begins with
the observation of:
Victor
(2010)
Economic Development:
movement from subsistence
agriculture to export
agriculture and/or the
introduction of neoliberal
economic policies
Leading to: Leading to: Leading to:
Structural
changes to
economy, society
Conflict between
state and
populace, conflict
is predominantly
state sponsored
violence
Increases to
intra and
interstate
migration
The framework provides the initiating factor, economic development, which results in
structural changes to the economy and the society, these structural changes often necessitate and
result in a violent form of enforcement which is carried out by the state, the increase in violence
leads to increases in migration. 23
The framework provides the end point this case study is
attempting to explain, changes in intrastate and interstate migration within Guatemala.
Economic Development and Structural Changes
The explanation of economic development and structural change will be organized
loosely by the policies adopted during specific presidential administrations. The successive
presidential terms at times demonstrate an overlap of preferred economic policies in the years
1950 to 1995, and at other times remain distinct policies. The Arbenz administration (1950-1954)
23 Each of the frameworks utilized by this study, to build the framework being applied, used a slightly
different term to describe essentially the same economic phenomena (i.e. agricultural development,
economic modernization, capital penetration, neoliberal economic policies); this case study makes use of
the term economic development to denote the first step listed in each of the frameworks.
124