Mexican Identity Abroad

Spring 2011 · Issue Ten

Identity (Crisis) discussed in Schlossplatz with Mary Kaldor, Mary J. Hartmann, et al.

Schlossplatz3 · Spring 2011 · Issue Ten

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Editorial

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Identity and War by Mary Kaldor

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Ethnic Identity, Conflict and the Lenses Through Which We See the World by Claudia Simons

p. 12

Belgium’s Identity Crisis by Steven Lauwers and Godfroy Grosjean

p. 15

A Discussion of Identity in the Context of Migration Interview with Mary J. Hartmann

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European Identity: Generation erasmus by Eric N. de Vries

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Weapons for Queer Escape by Zach Blas

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Identity and Consumption by Zoë Robaey and Lukas Schmid

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Mexican Identity Abroad by Carlos J. Guizar Rivas

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A Short History of Schlossplatz3 by Tanja Kuechen and Sophia Armanski

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Campus Spotlight

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Alumni 3

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Imprint


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Mexican Identity Abroad by Carlos J. Guizar Rivas

Mexicans represent more than 60% of the Hispanic population temporarily or permanently living in the United States. From 1990 to 2005, the Mexican population in the United States increased from 13.4m to 26.7m people. These figures also indicate that Mexican migrants tend to stay in the United States for longer periods than they used to. Both Mexico and the United States profit from the resulting economic contributions. In 2007, for example, the contribution made by the population of Mexican origin to the American economy amounted to $635 billion and in 2010 Mexico received $21.3 billion in remittances. Therefore, identity-related issues have become more relevant for policy makers, politicians, and citizens in both Mexico and the United States. Mexicans prefer moving to places where they have Those who try the most to adapt to their receiver relatives or friends so they immediately have a social communities tend to be the ones that were born in net. By living together with fellow countrymen, who the United States. Some of them may not want to share similar values they are able to remain attached learn Spanish and alter their values, habits or identity to their Mexican identity. Anti-immigrant legislation in order to be accepted by the receiver communities. and xenophobic attitudes may also serve as factors These people experience identity crises in the United that push immigrants to attach even more to their States as well as in Mexico: in many cases, they are communities. rejected by both their communities of origin as well However, a loss of Mexican values and national iden- as their receiver communities. It is at that moment of tity may occur as part of their adaptation process to limbo when the last notion of national identity may receiver communities. Some of them tend to replicate be lost. As such, the role played by the authorities in certain attitudes and habits that are not the same as Mexico is crucial in order to promote national values the ones they had back home. For example, there may and identity as well as strengthening the links with be a cultural shock as they have strong bonds to their their original communities. religious beliefs, which are based on Catholic values and may differ from the values held by the majority of Reinforcing citizenship abroad the receiver community. A step forward to reinforce Mexicans’ identity abroad, through exercising their political rights, was a proposal made by former President Fox that allowed Mexicans overseas to vote for the first time in the federal elections of 2006 and onwards. The exercise of prerogatives serves as an identity booster for migrants as they are able to decide on Mexico’s future and political direction. Even though many Mexicans abroad were

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Carlos J. Guizar Rivas graduated from the Hertie School of Governance in 2009 and is currently working as International Affairs Director of the National Action Party National Executive Committee in Mexico. He has worked as a consultant at the Mexican Congress and has been lecturer at international migration forums and member/advisor of Mexican Delegations to the UN General Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

able to vote in 2006, more things need to be done so they can effectively exercise this prerogative. Some of them are not able to get a voting card as they do not have birth certificates, they do not come to Mexico or do not stay long enough in the country to get the card. de Vries " Guizar Rivas " Grosjean

In response to this issue, the Parliamentarian Group of the National Action Party (PAN) at the Mexican Chamber of Deputies made two main proposals: 1) the Federal Electoral Institute can set regional campaigns abroad in order to issue voting cards for Mexicans overseas; and 2) Mexicans living abroad are able to become deputies or senators hence each political party would have to propose migrants in their lists for proportional representation. With this reform, at least twelve Mexicans living abroad would become congressmen. Nevertheless, Mexicans who do not have all their documents with them would not be able to reap these benefits. For this reason, local government officials travel periodically to the United States to issue birth certificates and to promote the link between the Mexicans living abroad and their original communities. As well, Guanajuato and other Mexican states have representations in many cities of the United States to promote national values and identity.

bution Mexican immigrants make to their economy (e.g. one of the greatest investments in Denver is the construction of the Four Seasons Hotel, which 46% of the investment belong to Mexicans). Mexican values, traditions, and customs are also promoted among Mexicans and Americans with the MC organising art exhibits and screening movies from the Mexican Film Golden Era at local theatres and the consulate. In Denver, many actions have been taken to promote

These people experience identity crises in the United States as well as in Mexico: in many cases, they are rejected by both their communities of origin as well as their receiver communities.

The relationship between Mexicans living abroad and their country is largely cultivated through consulates and embassies. The Mexican Consulate General (MC) to Denver, for example, has a jurisdiction of 64 counties in Colorado and 13 in Wyoming with an national identity and protect both the rights and digestimated population of 671,341, primarily coming nity of Mexicans living in a region—which usually is from the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Guanajuato, not linked to Mexicans living in it—unlike in Califorand Durango. In 2007, President Felipe Calderon nia where 25% of the population have Mexican roots. appointed Eduardo Arnal Consul General to Denver. (Due to his performance he was recently appointed The National Executive Committee (CEN) of the PAN to the Mexican Consulate to Chicago). As a member also promotes national identity abroad through the of the president’s transition team, and sharing his Migrants Integral Development Council and after humanistic approach, his “priority is to promote being elected, the National President of the PAN, GusMexican traditions and customs, filled with the tavo Madero, created the Coordination on Migration. values which constitute our national identity … and As such, through the coordination and joint efforts to promote cooperation links with the American of deputies, senators and authorities of the PAN, as authorities so they can encourage respect towards our well as several secretariats of the CEN, including the fellow Mexicans”. International Affairs Secretariat, we encourage MexiIdentity is also related to a sense of pride, which is why cans to preserve their national identity and values and the MC promotes a wider image of Mexican immi- we also promote the protection of their rights and grants, highlighting their contributions to the United human dignity. States and making Coloradoans aware of the contri-


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Imprint Schlossplatz3 Spring 2011 · Issue Ten Publisher:

Hertie School of Governance GmbH Helmut Anheier Anna Sophie Herken ( V. i. S. d. P. ) Quartier 110 · Friedrichstraße 180 10117 Berlin Copies: 1,500 Chief Editors: Sandra Pfluger, Johannes Ropers Content Editors: Andrew M.T. Stonehouse, Samuel Marmer Campus Editor: Marie-Christina Dankmeyer Blog Editor: Corina Murafa Team: Zoë Robaey, Ana Carolina, Alfinito Vieira, Lukas Schmid, Richard Kaudewitz,Steven Lauwers Art Direction & Graphic Design: Plural Severin Wucher, Berlin in association with BASICS09, Berlin Illustrations: bitteschön.tv, Berlin Photos: Schlossplatz3 Print: Brandenburgische Universitäts-Druckerei und Verlags gesellschaft Potsdam GmbH Printed in Germany Schlossplatz3 is printed on Munken Lynx, a wood free paper produced according to the stipulations of the “Nordic Swan” Eco-label. Disclaimer: The material contained herein is property of Schlossplatz3, Berlin 2011. Opinions stated within are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of the magazine. Address: Hertie School of Governance Redaktion Schlossplatz3 Quartier 110 · Friedrichstraße 180 10117 Berlin [email protected] Hertie School of Governance— founded and supported by the Hertie Foundation 40

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Next Issue “You say you want a revolution Well, you know We all want to change the world You tell me that it’s evolution Well, you know We all want to change the world” Well, how do we start a revolution? It would be unjust to expect an answer from the Beatles. However, it is right to expect answers in Issue 11 of Schlossplatz3. The upcoming issue will discuss the term “revolution” in its broadest sense and whether one is needed to change the world. Does revolution mean overthrowing an existing political regime or altering our energy mix? Does it mean abusing or embracing new technologies? We will look (and learn) from the past by revisiting historical revolutions, shed light on the present by writing about the uprising in the Arab world and look into the future by covering possible solutions to resource depletion. The next issue of Schlossplatz3 will appear in the Fall of 2011. The lyrics of the Beatles will be a guidance for all times: “But when you talk about destruction Don’t you know that you can count me out Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right all right, all right.” Schlossplatz3

Mary Kaldor

Claudia Simons

Godefroy Grosjean

Steven Lauwers

Mary J. Hartmann

Eric de Vries

Zach Blas

Carlos J. Guizar Rivas

Lukas Schmid

Hertie School of Governance

Zoë Robaey

hartmann " Lauwers " Robaey

Simons " Lauwers " Hartmann

Robaey " hartmann " Guizar

De Vries " De Vries " Zachblas

Guizar " Grosejean " Robaey

De Vries " Guizar " Kaldor

Hartmann " Simons " Schmid

Zachblas " Kaldor " Simons

Schmid " Schmid " Zachblas

Hartmann " Guizar " De Vries

De Vries " Robaey " Guizar

hartmann " Lauwers " Robaey