Resumo

ZABIN, Carol  e  ESCALA, Luis. From Civic Association to Political Participation: Mexican Hometown Associations and Mexican Immigrant Political Empowerment in Los Angeles. Frontera norte [online]. 2002, vol.14, n.27, pp.7-41. ISSN 2594-0260.

This article examines the participation of Mexican immigrants in hometown associations (HTAs), the most significant manifestation of voluntary-sector activity among first-generation Mexican immigrants. It focuses on metropolitan Los Angeles, California, the region with the highest concentration of Mexican immigrants and Mexican HTAs in the United States. The research, which assessed HTA participation in U.S. politics and social movements, revealed that Mexican HTAs, while powerful forces for social support in the United States and important philanthropic work in Mexico, have been much less involved in political activity in the United States. Despite this limited political participation, Mexican HTAs are beginning to realize their potential, which might eventually turn them into significant sources of immigrant political empowerment in the United States.

Palavras-chave : mexican migration; political participation; hometown associations; United States; Los Angeles.