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