ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the effect of globalization on kinship and family life. One might think, and indeed many have thought, that globalization in general erodes the bonds and structures of kinship. Human movement is accelerating in volume through both urbanization and the movement of more and more people from more and more countries in international migration, usually for purposes of obtaining work. One of the most disturbing is the illicit "child trafficking," where adoption rings buy or kidnap children from poor parents to be sold abroad to rich couples. "An interesting dimension of child circulation in Peru is the role of the transferred children in establishing or enhancing strong relationships among the participating adults. Much like the Golden Arches' being transplanted to Asia, the forces of globalization everywhere encounter different responses in terms of kinship and family. Kinship structures and family ties are closely interwoven with this globalizing migration.
