Locating and Defining

the Caribbean
Geographical, Geological, Political, Historical
and Diasporic
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, you should be able
to:
 Locate the Caribbean.
 List the five definitions of the Caribbean.
 Describe each definition.
 Distinguish between the various definitions of

the Caribbean.
 State why these definitions are necessary.
 Name the members of each of the various

groupings of Caribbean Islands.

What is the Caribbean?
 You are invited to a conference in Bhutan
(South Asian country), you are the
Caribbean’s lone representative. Tell the
people of Bhutan about the Caribbean; its
location, culture, etc.
Locating the Caribbean
Defining the Caribbean
 There is no single definition of the Caribbean
that would adequately explain or describe the
Caribbean, as one definition would, in some
way exclude territories.

◦ Geographical
◦ Geological
◦ Historical
◦ Political
◦ Diasporic
Geographical Caribbean
 Refers to the land area which
has it coastline washed by
the Caribbean sea.

◦ It includes the Caribbean

Sea and all of the islands
located to the south east of
the Gulf of Mexico, east of
Central America and
Mexico and North of South
America.

◦ Stretches east to west

about 3,000km and north
to south about 1,500km.
Geographical Caribbean
◦ Latitude 27.33ºN to 10.05ºN
and Longitude 84.96ºW to
59.42ºW.

◦ This includes: The Greater and

Lesser Antilles, the Cayman
Islands, the Netherland
Antilles, the Mainland
territories of Belize, Colombia,
Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama,
Nicaragua and Honduras.
◦ However, it excludes the Turks
and Caicos Islands, the
Bahamas, Suriname, Guyana,
French Guiana/Cayenne and
Barbados.
Geological Caribbean
 The area of the region
defined by the Caribbean
plate and experience the
same tectonic, seismic and
volcanic processes and
features.

 Most of the Caribbean

islands share similar
physical features,
experience earthquakes or
volcanic activities. These
are created as the result of
Caribbean plate sinking
below the North America
plate.
Historical Caribbean
 The area of the region that shares a common
bond of historical experiences of:
◦ discovery,
◦ colonisation by the Europeans (Spanish, French,
British and Dutch);
◦ genocide of the indigenous inhabitants (Tainos,
Kalinagos, etc.);
◦ introduction of the systems of slavery and servitude
(Encomienda, Chattel Slavery, Indentureship);
◦ introduction of other groups (Africans, East Indians,
Europeans, Chinese, etc.);
◦ Independence.
Political Caribbean
 The political Caribbean refers to the various
groupings of the islands and territories, their
political systems and political arrangements.
 1. Groupings
◦ Depended on who and when; based on the colonial
power and at different times in history.
 Early Colonial Era – French, British, Spanish and Dutch
West Indies.
 United States colonies – Cuba and Puerto Rico
 Pre Independence – Federation of West Indian States,
Windward and Leeward Islands, Greater and Lesser
Antilles.
Political Caribbean
◦ Greater Antilles
 Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Haiti,
Puerto Rico
◦ Lesser Antilles
 US Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Caribbean
Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, (St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica) –Windward
Islands, (St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, Montserrat,
British Virgin Islands, Anguilla) – Leeward Islands
Post Independence
◦ CARICOM
 Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada,
Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Kitts &
Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, (Anguilla, Bermuda,
BVI, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos – Associate
members).
Political Caribbean
◦ OECS
 Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Kitts &
Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda

Based on Language and Alliances

◦ Francophone Caribbean
 Guadeloupe, St. Bartelemy/ Bartholomew, Martinique,
French Guiana, Saint Martin
◦ Dutch West Indies
 Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Sint Maarten
◦ Anglophone Caribbean
 All English speaking Caribbean territories
Political Caribbean
 2. Governmental Systems
◦ Independent States

◦ Associate States – Montserrat, Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands (The

associate states are responsible for their internal governance and have a
governor).

◦ Colonial Dependencies or Oversees Departments– Francophone

Caribbean

 3. Political Arrangements
◦ Communist system – Cuba
◦ Annexed to the US – Puerto Rico
◦ Republics – Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Commonwealth of Dominica
◦ West Minster/Whitehall/Democratic Parliamentary System
Diasporic Caribbean
 Diaspora: “ a community of people who live outside
their shared country of origin or ancestry but
maintain active connections with it” (International
Diaspora Engagement Alliance, 2012, p. 2).
 It describes the emotional, cultural and even

spiritual connections and attachments persons

(immigrants) have with their country or region of
origin.
◦ Persons are able to maintain close ties with their homeland.
 Refers to those territories and countries that have
a significant population of persons of Caribbean
origin.
◦ North America, Europe, etc.
Conclusion
Is it really necessary to have five definitions of the
Caribbean?