Abstract
This article presents an ethnographic study of migration and integration dynamics in the Bocas del Toro province of Panama, a Caribbean coastal region characterised by its multi-ethnic population including indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé, Afro-Caribbean, Chinese, Latino, and North American expatriate communities. The study examines how diverse migrant and indigenous communities negotiate coexistence and develop hybrid cultural forms.
Key Findings
- Bocas del Toro’s multi-ethnic character has produced distinctive forms of cultural hybridity and inter-group relations
- Tourism development has become a key arena for negotiating ethnic relations and economic opportunity
- Indigenous Ngöbe communities face particular challenges in maintaining cultural autonomy while engaging with tourism economies
- North American and European expatriate settlement creates new dynamics of economic and cultural power
Methodology
Extended ethnographic fieldwork over 18 months in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, combining participant observation with semi-structured interviews, life histories, and community mapping.
Implications
The study contributes to understanding how multi-ethnic communities form and function in contexts of ongoing migration and economic change, offering insights relevant for migration and integration policy in diverse societies.
