Communities in Globalization: The Invisible Mayan Nahual

There is a silent globalization being carried out far below the action of multinational firms, international organizations, and state policies. It is the work of societies―communities of determined and creative people―and not just the most competitive, highly funded. Communities in Globalization richly illustrates the experiences of three Central American communities connected with the global markets of tourism, handicrafts, and manufacturing subcontracts. Each community's unique perspective is developed to show the economic, political-institutional, and primarily, the social effects of its connection with world trade, something that has received little attention in mainstream literature. This book is not about the ancient Mayan myth of the Nahual―the transformation of human beings into animals in order to perform actions that would otherwise not be possible―but does draw from it metaphorically. It is about contemporary communities, communities that have until recently been called the 'Third World,' surviving the dangers and threats of today's exclusionary phenomenon called globalization. Ultimately, this book seeks to identify the resources that allow a community to face globalization while minimizing its risks and maximizing its opportunities.