Linking Separate Worlds

This pathbreaking ethnography of population movements between rural and urban places in Peru addresses the conceptual and methodological problems of studying ls"deterritorializedrs" populations and the implications of this for anthropologyrs"s notions of culture and identity. Based on extensive fieldwork, this book explores the economic, social and ritual bonds which link migrants in Perurs"s major cities to their Andean native village. Many urban migrants establish networks based on kinship and marriage ties to exploit resources in the city as well as the village. These networks ensure they maintain strong links to their native village. Fiestas, soccer tournaments and folklore festivals also play a crucial role in the formation of migrant communities in Perurs"s cities. The author analyses these performance practices and shows how they give rise to the creation of new social identities. The participation of second generation migrants, returning migrants, and migrant spouses in village life is also discussed.

Karsten Paerregaard, Institute of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen.