Caribbean studies

• Society


  • Collection of people living in the same area over time
  • Common territory
  • Way of life of a people
• Characteristics of society


  • Shared common purpose
  • Defined territorial space
  • Continuity over time and space
  • Citizenship within the space
• Territorial space


  People living within the same geographic boundary
• Characteristics of society are more than a geographical description or political borders on a map
• Characteristics of society imply that people within the space have similar identity
• Continuity over time and space means people that live within a space over a period of time
• Society is not static, it changes over time
• Not everyone shares a common purpose in society
• Differences in society


  • Different belief systems (religious, political and sexual ideologies)
  • Conflict in society
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

  The total market value of the output of a country in a given year
• Gross National Product (GNP)


  The value of output produced by a country plus any income derived from abroad
• Per capita

  An economic measure adjusted for PPP that reflects the cost of living between countries
• Gini Coefficient

  The most widely used indicator to measure inequality
• Economic development

  • The process of improving the standard of living, and the political and social well-being of the people
• Human Development

  • The process of improving people's well-being and quality of life in a way that is sustainable, equitable and culturally relevant
• Sustainable Development

  • Economic development that will continue to benefit later generations rather than short term
• Challenges Facing Caribbean Development

  • Historical Capitalism
  • Historical Precedent of Neglect for Human Dignity
  • Lack of Resources
  • Legacies of the Plantation
• Goals of Sustainable Development

  • No Poverty
  • Zero Hunger
  • Gender Equality
  • Quality Education
• Challenges of Development

  • Crime
  • Gender Inequality
  • Distribution of Wealth
  • Natural Disaster
• Impact on the Government - Positive effects

  • Increased economic development
  • Expanded infrastructure
  • Transfer of modern management techniques
  • Greater interdependence among business partners
• Impact on the Government - Negative effects

  • MNC power increased
  • MNCs externalize cost to countries
  • Competition results in too many concessions
  • MNCs influence local policies
  • Companies incorporate in low tax countries
  • Pressure to reduce social benefits
• Impact on Employment - Positive effects

  • Increased job opportunities
  • Upgraded education system
  • Increased training
• Impact on Employment - Negative effects

  • Job displacement
  • Loss of industries or economic groups
  • Lowered labor standards
  • Downward wage pressure
  • Decreased union power
  • Diminished social contract
• Globalization may lead to more environmental problems, as companies may build factories in countries with lax environmental laws
• Globalisation


  The integration, in particular international trade, the process of flow of trade, finances and information between countries overseas (global market)
• Facilitators of globalisation and development

  • World Bank
  • International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  • World Trade Organisation (WTO)
  • Transnational organisations/companies
  • Technology-internet
• World Bank


  Provides finance for development projects
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)

  Ensures financial stability worldwide
• World Trade Organisation (WTO)

  Regulates trade in goods and services
• WTO was established in 1995
• WTO objectives


  • Implement the new world trade agreement
  • Promote multilateral trade
  • Promote free trade by abolishing tariff and non-tariff
• Increase the level of production & productivity

  1. Increase the level of productivity

  2. Increase employment
• What is culture shock?

  • Moving from one culture to another and experience things that you are not familiar with.
• what is Parallelism ?

  Similarity in structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.
• Caribbean culture


  • Large numbers of Caribbean communities in larger cities of developed world
  • Their sizeable presence will impact strongly on the local and foreign politics of these host countries
• Some cities with large Caribbean communities

  • New York
  • Toronto
  • Miami
  • London
  • Paris
  • Amsterdam
• The large presence of Cubans living in Florida provides powerful lobby to pressure the US government to formulate policies to undermine the Castro communist government
• Haitian 'boat people' impact of immigration issue, used as a political issue
• Caribbean people provides both skilled and unskilled labour that helps economic development of the host countries
• Impact of Caribbean cultural practices on countries abroad

  • Large presence of Caribbean nationals provides a cultural force
  • Popularity of the Caribbean as a tourist destination
  • Many Caribbean people travel abroad causing cultural assimilation [adaptation by foreigners]