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 non-
traditional religious practices
 Mass Media
 Tourism
Caribbean influences on extra-
regional 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