We will comparatively examine the evidence through two frameworks: cultural convergence and cultural divergence. Indigenous ethnolinguistic groups located outside of their native region can be indicators of greater trends as they may be particularly vulnerable to the pressures of globalization as well as the greatest beneficiaries of international connectedness.
Convergence Theory
The Cultural Convergence Theory, also referred to as World Culture Theory, sees globalization as essentially a process that leads to cultures becoming more alike, where dominant social groups push tendencies towards sameness. This could be more easily explained or envisioned through the metaphor of a melting pot versus a mosaic. In convergence, the process is more about assimilation or fusing different cultures into an amalgamation. A great example of how a heterogenous society becomes more homogenous can be seen in Catholicism through colonialism in the Americas, where saints were created to replace indigenous Gods and promote conversion.
As we applied this framework to the Mesoamerican diaspora here on California’s Central Coast, we expected to find evidence supporting the attempted convergence of Mixtec traditions with those of their new local host community. Through exploratory research, we’ve discovered clashes of culture in the legal arena with examples of fathers marrying their daughters off earlier than the local community of Greenfield felt comfortable with. We’ve also read of the obvious friction that surfaces in migratory issues. Lastly, our research exposed various rifts in the concepts of identity where native people not only felt obligated to choose between a mestizo and an indio identity back home, but have had more complicated layers of identity added now that they’re in a new country. Here they also choose among Mexican, American and Mexican-American identities – not to mention the subcultures (i.g. chicanismo) that exist within each of these identities. Listen to Columbia-trained cultural anthropologist, Marvin Harris, predict “a period of truly global convergence towards a much more democratic, decentralized, international and interethnic form or way of life,” which some argue has now come to fruition.
Divergence Theory
Conversely, cultural divergence theorists argue that ethnolinguistic groups seek to maintain their distinct identity by disassociating themselves from neighboring groups and mainstream cultures. These sociologists believe that globalization assists cultures in becoming more different from each other. As we apply this framework to Mixtec migrants in our research, we found supportive evidence of divergence. In our research, we hypothesize that globalization has improved the diaspora’s ability to stay in touch with their communities of origin through cheap and widely-available cellphones, efficient and low-cost systems for sending remittances to México from the U.S. and a porous border between the countries. We believe that increased connectivity will result in higher cultural preservation and less cultural assimilation.
The Mexica Movement is a great example of divergent culture. As the lecture below from the organization’s Director and Founder, Olin Tezcatlipoca, explains, the movement is about unifying the Native American (from Alaska to Chile) identity while also differentiating it from the Latino or Hispanic identities. Even more divergent theorists criticize this movement for attempting to group the Native Peoples of an entire hemisphere into one “Nican Tlaca” identity, void of tribal or national distinctions. They counter that to even call it a “Mexica” movement is inherently discriminatory as the Mexica Peoples are from a very specific region of Mesoamerica, which excludes northeastern México, southern Central America and all of South America. To call all Native Peoples of the Americas “Nican Tlaca” they argue is also prejudiced in that the term is particular to a regional family of Native languages and dialects.