Mobility, translocal development and the shaping of development corridors in (semi-)rural Nicaragua

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to the debate on the linkages between mobility and development by exploring the concept of translocal development, proposed in this special issue. Based on empirical field research in Matiguas and Muy Muy, it analyses how mobility shapes the livelihoods of (semi-)rural households in Nicaragua and explores how the different household members use physical movement as a livelihood asset. It argues that (semi-)rural dwellers consider different types of movement as important strategies for establishing corridors between people and places and for achieving socio-economic improvement in their home community. At the same time, it shows how mobility, like any other livelihood asset, is played out in power-ridden social relationships that affect its potential. This way, the paper contributes to a dynamic and multi-dimensional understanding of how development processes shape – and are shaped by – mobility and interconnectivity.