ESPACIOS DE GUBERNAMENTALIDAD ENTRE EL "CENTRO" Y LA "PERIFERIA": DEFINIENDO LA MIGRACIÓN Y EL DESARROLLO EN LA ZONA DE LOS SANTOS 1 SPACES OF GOVERNMENTALITY BETWEEN THE "CENTER" AND THE "PERIPHERY": DEFINING MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE LA ZONA DE LOS SANTOS

Resumen

Using Foucaults concept of governmentality I analyze the way in which institutions in Los Santos, as a rural peripheral area built governmentality in relation to migration and migrant people around the concept of family, while the hegemonic institutions at the center build governmentality out of the concept of development. From the analysis of official discourses, I conclude that in both cases, causes of migration are individualized, and stereotypes about emigrants are reproduced as well as xenophobia against immigrant population, while from paternalistic and neocolonial perspectives institutions from the center try to incorporate Ngobe-Bugle population from Panama. This with the attempt to coopt them and make them accept extractivist development projects. Official discourses and governmental practices generate, reproduce and legitimate exclusion and violence, although this context also allows to question disrespect for Human Rights and immigrantslabor rights.