The Political Impact of Migrants in Colombia and Ecuador

Abstract

Chapter 7 presents fieldwork carried out in Colombia and Ecuador in the summer of 2012. It mostly presents data derived from the interviews conducted with mayors and local authorities in the highlands of Colombia and Ecuador. The chapter also gives some specific examples of how migrant influence improved the lot of their communities, particularly with basic government services. It also presents some observations from migrant organizations in Ecuador. Overall, the data strongly supports that migrants channel new ideas to their communities of origin, and that the locals are noticing.