Caribbean Studies module 1

Caribbean Society & Culture

Location and definition of the

Caribbean region
Geographic location
Names of territories
Sub-regions: Greater Antilles, Lesser
Antilles, western Caribbean, Southern
Caribbean, The Bahamas
Position of the Caribbean in relation
to the Caribbean sea, Atlantic Ocean
and the continental land masses.

Definitions of the Caribbean

Geographical
Geological
Historical
Political
Caribbean identity and culture

Characteristics of society

Shared common purpose

A defined territorial space
Continuity over time and space
Citizenship within a space

Culture
Learned behaviour common to all
human beings
Norms and values which provide a
guide to behaviour
Institutions which prescribe behaviour

Characteristics of Caribbean
Society and Culture
Cultural diversity
Positive and negative effects of
cultural diversity
Ethnic and cultural differences
Accommodation made among
different ethnic groups with respect
to space, political and economic
power and social visibility

Social Stratification
Plantation society and its impact on
Caribbean social stratification (race,
colour, money)
Education as basis for new class
formation and upward mobility (social
mobility)
Concepts such as plantocracy,
intelligentsia, middle class, bourgeoise,
working class, underclass, caste

Hybridization
Factors such as racial admixture and
colour in the formation of Caribbean
society and culture, terms like
mulatto, mestizo, dougla,
transculturation, creole
Erasure, retention and renewal of
cultural practices

Impact of Historical Processes

Migratory movements and the
establishment of patterns of
settlement by different groups within
the Caribbean from pre-Columbian
times to the present
The development of systems of
production: encomienda, slavery,
indentureship, the plantation system

History cont
Responses of Caribbean people to
oppression and genocide: resistance,
development of peasant groups
Movements towards independence
Political enfranchisement

Political enfranchisement

Adult suffrage
Internal self-government
Economic enfranchisement
Entrepreneurial activities, including
shopkeeping and savings societies

Geographical impact on society and

culture
Plate tectonics
Definition
Location and movement of the
Caribbean plate
Earthquakes and volcanoes: social
displacement
hurricanes

Geographical impact cont

Soils erosion, conservation
Coral reefs coastal protection,
sustainability of fishing industry
droughts

Impact of societal institutions

Family
Education
Religion
Justice System

Caribbean-Global Interactions
Consumption patterns: goods and
services
Creative expressions: festivals,
music, theatre arts, culinary practices
Education: impact of colonialism; the
information age, language;
curriculum reforms, for example,
teaching Caribbean Studies in
universities in the UK

Global interactions: Political

influences
Westminster System: Constitutional
monarchy (Jamaica, Barbados and
Bahamas)
Rule of law
Electoral process: first-past-the post
system
Caribbean contribution to the political
life of the host communities of Europe
and north America

Global impact continued

Labour: influence of migratory labour
Sport- cricket, soccer, basketball,
track and field
Religion traditional and nontraditional religious practices
Mass Media
Tourism

Caribbean influences on extraregional countries

Important political issues created
within countries of Europe and North
America by presence of large
numbers of Caribbean people (for
example, impact of Haitians and
Cubans living in Florida upon the
politics of that State)

Caribbean impact abroad cont

The impact of Caribbean festivals like
Notting Hill Carnival in the United
Kingdom, Labour Day in Brooklyn,
Carnival in Miami and Caribana in
Canada on the economies of the
areas where they occur; the impact of
migrant labour on the economies of
the countries of North America

Caribbean impact abroad cont

The impact of festivals and music of the
Caribbean (for example, carnival, calypso,
reggae, Punta, salsa, zouk), upon the
festivals, music, pageants and street
parades of the countries of North America,
Europe, Africa and Japan
Impact of Rastafarianism
Influence of Caribbean culinary practices