Mass Migration & Development Midterm

Symbolic Violence

The subtle, often unseen power by which dominant groups impose values and norms so the oppressed accept their own disadvantage as natural

Structural Violence

Systemic harm built into social, economic, or political structures that prevents people from meeting basic needs or reaching their full potential.

Habitus

A set of deeply ingrained habits, tastes, and ways of thinking shaped by one’s upbringing and social environment, guiding how people perceive and act in the world

Bare Life

A person reduced to mere biological existence, stripped of legal or political rights — alive but without full social or civic recognition

Bad Faith

A concept from existentialist philosophy where someone deceives themselves to avoid facing the freedom and responsibility of their choices

Sedentary Bias

The assumption that living in one place is “normal” or preferable, often overlooking the value, experiences, and knowledge of mobile or nomadic lifestyles

Agency versus Structure

Agency: The capacity of individuals to make choices and act independently. Structure: the social, economic, and cultural systems that shape or constrain those choices

Mobility (versus migration)

Mobility: The general ability or movement of people, goods, or ideas across space, which can be temporary or fluid. Migration: The permanent or long-term relocation of people from one place to another, often crossing political or national boundaries

Labor migration

The movement of people from one place to another primarily for work, often to find better employment opportunities or higher wages

State sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself, make laws, and control its territory without external interference

Labor Power

The capacity of a person to work and produce goods or services, which can be bought and sold in a labor market

Triqui People

An indigenous group from the Oaxaca region of Southern Mecivo, known for their rich cultural traditions, communal organization, and distinctive language (Triqui). Many have migrated for work while maintaining strong ties to their communities.

Mestizo People

A person of mixed Indigenous and European (usually Spanish) ancestry, common in Latin America.

“La Bestia”

A network of freight trains in Mexico used by migrants - mainly from Central America —- to travel north toward the U.S., often dangerous and associated with theft, assault, and injury.

“Habitus” term creator

Pierre Bourdieu, a French sociologist

“Bad Faith” term creator

Jean-Paul Sartre, a French existentialist philosopher

Global North

Countries that are generally wealthy, industrialized, and politically powerful, often located in the Northern Hemisphere, such as the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe

Global South

Countries that are generally less wealthy, less industrialized, and often historically marginalized in global politics, typically located in Latin America, Africa, and parts of Asia.

Circular Migration

The repeated movement of people between their home region and another place for work, often seasonally or temporarily with the intention of returning home

Author that introduces “Sedentary Bias”