The Caribbean Community - Case Study Example

This is just a draft. You will find the final paper in email The Caribbean word has multiple uses. The primary uses are political and geographical. Caribbean also includes territories with strong historical and cultural background connections, to European colonization and the system of plantation. Geographically, the Caribbean region is surrounded by a chain of islands around the Caribbean Sea. The northern part is bordered by the Northern Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Florida. It also lies along the coastline of South America. On political basis, the "Caribbean" is believed to be centered on socioeconomic groupings in the region. For instance, the Caribbean Community block or CARICOM contains the Republic of Suriname in South America, the Belize in Central America and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. The Turks, Caicos Islands and the Bermuda, along the Atlantic Ocean are also members of this community. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is strongly associated with the Caribbean Community. The purpose of this paper is therefore to explore the Caribbean Community; in terms of their historic background, culture, their literature and linguistics as well as its development. The paper will also examine the impact of colonialism in the Caribbean Community in terms of economic exploitation. Before the European arrival, the Caribbean human population is estimated to have been 760,000. The regional population is believed to have grown after the decimation of its indigenous peoples and went up to 2.3 million in 1800, but increased largely in the next 200 years to its current population of around 38.5 million Caribbean people. The most populated areas are islands are Cuba that holds a population of 11.2 million, followed by the Republic of Dominican with a population of 9.6 million and lastly Haiti with 8.3 million people. The highest population densities are in Barbados, Puerto Rico and Aruba. The populations of smaller islands fluctuate as a result of seasonal influx of tourists, for instance, Cayman Islands, St. Maarten, Aruba and the Bahamas. For example, total arrival of tourists in the islands of Cayman exceeded 2.1 million in the year 2003, with the resident population only around 56,400. Populations in most countries particularly Cuba, Haiti, Republic of Dominica and Puerto Rico have increased significantly in the last 40 years (ECLAC 2007, ECLAC 2009a). However, the rate of growth has declined significantl, with an annual average population growth in 0.82 percent for 12 islands in 2003 along the Caribbean Islands Hotspot, compared to 1.46 percent in 1970 (Heilemann 2005. Nevertheless, the population of these regions is predicted to increase by 2050 (Population Reference Bureau 2008). The number of Caribbean people lives in urban centers around the coast. For this reason, urbanization has been growing rapidly and enormously without proper planning and has increased significantly over the last 40 years in the almost all islands, making it approximately 10 percent more than the average growth of the entire Caribbean (Heileman, 2005). Around 64 percent of the population of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)in the year 2005 was classified as an urban center and this may reach 71 percent in 2020, that’s around 10.5 million (Nature and the Economy: Addressing the delicate balance; Presentation by Dr. Compton Bourne, president, Caribbean Development Bank, 2007). In the poorer countries there is massive and uncontrolled squatter settlements that have expanded considerably, especially along the coastal parts. Unfortunately, there is adequate provision of sanitation services that has kept with the pace of growing urban population These population processes has a high historical growth rate and high population densities. There is massive seasonal influxes and increasing urbanization of the population that have led to unsustainable demand for more land and other natural resources like water to the detriment the biodiversity and ecosystems of the affected areas (Heilemann 2005). Caribbean Culture The culture of Caribbean is well explained in terms of the artistic, culinary, musical, literary, as well as social and political elements that represent the people of Caribbean in the entire world. The culture of Caribbean has been greatly influenced by the European culture as well as traditions, especially Spanish, French and British. Some cultural elements of the Africans and some other immigrants have incorporated the Caribbean culture. The linguistic has been influenced by United States, their cultural neighbor. With anxiety to illustrate the line of complexity and diversity in Caribbean, and the bond between linguistic, cultural and political frontiers of Caribbean communities, Mintz (1959) argued in The Caribbean as a Socio-Cultural Area that” “The diverse origin of the Caribbean populations; the complicated history of European cultural impositions; and the absence in most such societies of any firm continuity of the culture from the colonial power have resulted in a very heterogeneous cultural picture” when considering the region as a whole historically. “And yet the societies of the Caribbean — taking the word ‘society’ to refer here to forms of social structure and social organization — exhibit similarities that cannot possibly be attributed to mere coincidence” so that any “pan-Caribbean uniformities turn out to consist largely of parallels of economic and social structure and organization, the consequence of lengthy and rather rigid colonial rule,” such that many Caribbean societies “also share similar or historically related cultures” p. 123. Mintz used a dialectical approach with contradicting forces. The Caribbean slaves therefore were individualized through the slavery process and the modernity relationship, “but not dehumanized by it.” According to Mintz (1992), as soon as they are free, they produced “sophisticated ideas of cooperative unity. The need to buy more plantations in Guyana collectively; cooperative work groups for building houses, planting and harvesting; the growth of lending firms; and the cooperation between kinship as well as coordination all showed a strong individualism that slavery created did not completely obviate the activity of the group. Slavery Mintz compared forced labor and slavery across the Caribbean islands with time and the structure of colonization, such as in Puerto Rico and Jamaica (Mintz 1959b). After that he addressed the problem of differing systems of colonization with differing degrees of exploitation, cruelty and racism. According to the view of some political and historical leaders in the Caribbean was that the colonies of Iberian with their Catholicism tradition meant a more humane way of slavery; while the European colonies, with their religion of personalizing Protestant religions, exploit the slaves and made social categories easily and quickly. On the contrary, Mintz argued that handling of slaves had something to do with the integration of the colony into the economic systems of the world, the extent of controlling the metropolis over the colony as well as the degree of labor and land exploitation. Mintz together with Richard Price (1992) considered creolization a form of blending together multiple cultural traditions in order to create a new tradition in the culture if African American (Mintz and Price 1992). The governments of Caribbean have incorporated Caribbean culture with programs, institutions and laws. Through the media, governments promote Caribbean culture, for instance, the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), as well as various events that promotes Caribbean traditions. The culture of Caribbean is simply a product of its geography, history, and political system. As a collection of nations that settled, Caribbean has been greatly shaped by migration waves that have come together to form a blend of unique traditions that have improved the development of socio-cultural of the Caribbean. Most of the territories of Caribbean were inhabited and developed before the invasion of the European colonies.The symbols and themes of pioneers, traders and farmers were significant in the development of the this culture. The invasion of British the Caribbean in late 1759 brought a big Francophone population under the British rule. This led to a need for compromise and accommodation, as the migration of United Empire Loyalists from the Thirteen Colonies also led to strong influences of British, French, Spanish, African and the Dutch. The early interactions by the Caribbean interactions with First Nations and indigenous populations were never lasted as compared to the experience of the native people in the United States. Along with the relatively late economic development in many Caribbean regions, this complex history has not allowed the Caribbean native population having to have a strong influence on the culture of the national, by even destroying their remaining identity. Caribbean identity Caribbean identity can be traced back to the arrival of Afro-Caribbean people in the early 17th century. Through their culture in art, African and First Nations descendants have continued to exert influence into the Caribbean identity. The mystery of Caribbean identity was traditionally dominated by three main themes: the first one is the commonly conflicted relations between English and French that stem from the French imperative for survival of cultural and linguistic; secondly, the close ties between the English Caribbean and the British Empire, leading to a slow political process towards independence from the imperial power; lastly, the close proximity of the English-speaking Caribbean to the military, economic and cultural powerhouse of the United States. The slow loosening of ties between the political and cultural backgrounds of United Kingdom, in the 20th century immigrants from European, Caribbean, African and Asian have shaped Caribbean identity, a process that continues today with the arrival of significant numbers of immigrants from non-British or French backgrounds, adding the theme of multiculturalism to the debate. Today, the Caribbean has a diverse makeup of nationalities, cultures and constitutional protection for policies that promote multiculturalism rather than a single national myth. The issue of Caribbean identity remains under scrutiny, perhaps more than the identity of the people of any other modern nation. Bilingualism and multiculturalism The early development of Creole language, Spanish Caribbean, Patois and French Caribbean was relatively cohesive during the early 18th century that allowed the culture Francophone to survive and thrive in Caribbean. The heritage of Multiculturalism is enshrined in almost all islands. Multiculturalism is the cultural norm and diversity is the force that unites the people in the communities. Although a quarter of the entire Caribbean population speaks English, the largest group speaks English (because of the inclusion of mainland states of Caribbean); around 22% speak French while just 1% speaks Dutch. However, though today the Caribbean speak 59 living languages, they are not spoken in the "insular Caribbean", but on as the "continental Caribbean". Cultural identity is strong, in the island of French and many French-speaking commentators speak of a French culture as English Caribbean speak English culture. The majority believe Caribbean as a collection of many regional and ethnic subcultures. As the culture of French Caribbean is an obvious example, the influences of Spanish have allowed non-English dialects survival. However, the influence of Ulster immigrants to Barbados has minimizing Irish influences enormously in the culture of Caribbean, and highlighting the influence of British instead until around the 1980s. The Pacific of the Caribbean has also led a large influence of Chinese into Trinidad and a few other areas. The primary influences on Caribbean identity are traced back to the arrival of English, Spanish and French settlers, in the early 17th century. The First Nations played a critical role in assisting exploration of the continent, to develop European colonies in Caribbean. As a result, there was a struggle by the sugar trade and inter-European power led to the creation of Afro-Caribbean people. Through their culture and art, African descendants and First Nations have continued to exert influence on the Caribbean identity. The duty of most Caribbean painters followed suit in European trends. Caribbean painters have developed a variety of highly individual styles in the mid 1800s. Their arts have flourished in Caribbean since then. The Washington Organization of American States that was inaugurated in 1976 accommodates one of the oldest art collections of the 20th century representing the Caribbean. For instance, one exhibit showcased two important pieces made by women artists of the Caribbean, namely El vendedor de andullo a Tobacco Vendor, in 1938, by modernist Celeste Woss y Gil of the Dominican Republic and Marpacífico an oil painting in 1943, by a Cuban modernist Amelia Peláez. There have even been rare print selections by Haitian artists such as Wilson Bigaud, Jacques-Enguerrand Gourgue, Castera Bazile, Gabriel Lévêque and Dieudonné Cedor that have not yet been exhibited as they were part of the 1948 traveling exhibition. Literature The literature of Caribbean is often divided into English-language literature, French and Spanish that is rooted in the literary traditions of Britain, French and Spain respectively. However, this literature has become distinctly Caribbean. The Caribbean literature, whether is written in French, Spanish or even English, reflects the perspective of Caribbean life, nature and the position of the region in the world. The Caribbean identity is closely associated to its literature. Caribbean literature is mostly categorized according to the region or island; by literary period, such as "Caribbean Poets between the Wars” or “Caribbean postmoderns”; by the status of the author (example literature of Caribbean women, Asian peoples, Irish Caribbean and Europeans. A selection of poetry and fiction that was produced in the Caribbean between the 19th and 20th centuries can be found at "Caribbean Literature". The most pervasive characteristic of this literature is the use of "dialect" as forms of the national language, commonly termed as creoles. Various variations of local language is adopted from the colonial powers such as France, Spain, Britain, Portugal as well as Netherlands. These languages have been modified over the years in separate countries; each has developed a unique blend unique to their country. The Caribbean music reflects the influence of the multiculturalism that has shaped the Caribbean. Historically, the first people to influence the Caribbean music came from the South Americas and even some parts of Africa. Nevertheless, the first people of Caribbean: the French, the Spanish and the British, have all made huge contributions to the musical heritage of Caribbean. Since the arrival of Spanish explorer Columbus and established the first permanent Caribbean settlements, the Caribbean islands have produced their own musicians, composers and ensembles. Since the 17th century, Caribbean has significantly developed a music infrastructure that includes performing arts centers, church halls, record companies, television music video channels and radio stations. The music has been influenced subsequently by the American culture because of its migration and proximity between the two regions. For many years now, the Caribbean has produced many local and international successful artists and performers. Most of them have been recognized and even honored at The Awards, recognizing Caribbean achievement in the music industry. Moreover, the Caribbean is a home to most popular summertime folk festivals. The Caribbean has also produced a number of notable composers, with great contributions to the history of Western classical music in a variety of ways. The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence or (ANSCAFE) was first launched in October 2005 to awards artists and other related fields. Until 2010, they were made biennially, but as of 2011, the awards became yearly ceremonies in Trinidad. The late president of Guyana, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham contributed to the first Caribbean Festival of the Arts in 1972 in Georgetown, Guyana. Caribbean theatre Interestingly, the Caribbean has a thriving stage theatre scene. Judy Stone writes: "In addition to the conventional drama of social realism and the yard theatre, the range includes popular farce and roots theatre, musical folk theatre, pantomime, community theatre, Jamaica’s Gun Court theatre, political theatre, church theatre, children’s theatre, storytelling, the street theatre of Carnival and carnival theatre, calypso theatre, theatre of ritual, and the poetic theatre of St Lucia’s Derek Walcott. There is also a considerable body of dramatic work written for film, television and radio. Cuba, in particular, has a comparatively vibrant film industry." The Theatre festivals of the Caribbean draw many tourists in the tourist months. Ruprecht argues that the Creole Theatre would take one on a tour to a series of islands in the Caribbean, and he gives an analysis of the contemporary Creole theatre of the Caribbean along with the work of some playwrights associated with the Creole theatre, such as José Exélis , Arthur Lérus in Guadeloupe, Frankétienne and Cavé in Haiti as well as Boukman and Placoly of Martinique.The Trinidad Theatre Workshop was first established in 1959. Film and television Culture The Caribbean market of film and television was dominated by the industry of the American film for decades, although the film industry since inception has seen a prominent role of actors, producers, directors and technicians of Caribbean. The Caribbean filmmakers began challenging the Hollywood industry by making relevant and innovative documentary, feature films and dramas. A number of islands in Caribbean have established a vigorous film industry that has produced a variety of popular films and actors. In addition, the distinct Spanish-Caribbean and French-Caribbean societies permit directors to jointly contribute to different forms of film making. Some of these directors have won the Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Many Caribbean people are employed in the film industry. Caribbean television that is supported by the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation is the home of a many locally produced shows. Spanish and French language television is buffered from excessive influence by American through language that supports it and is host of home-grown television productions. The success of Spanish-language and French domestic television and movies in Caribbean usually exceeds their English-language counterpart. The Caribbean Media Awards has honored the best featured broadcast placements, photography and print from Caribbean media outlets. The Culture in Sports The Caribbean sporting culture is very different from that of many other countries. As compared to any other nation, the Caribbean prefers a unique set of sports mainly imported from the United Kingdom or that is grown in their home. They prefer mainly football and cricket. The Caribbean football means British football or soccer as it is known around the world. The newly formed Caribbean Awards Sports Icons (CASI) in 2009 are based on sports accomplishments made over the last 7 decades for theso who have featured well in various fields. Other popular fields in sports favorite to Caribbean include softball and rugby. As of the moment, the biggest sport in Caribbean is cricket. The popular individual sports include boxing, wrestling, auto racing, cycling, golf, horse racing, hiking, triathlon, swimming, skateboarding, tennis, water sports as well as track and field. As the climate of Caribbean islands is generally warm, the countries have enjoyed greater success at the Olympics Summer and the Central American and Caribbean Games more than the Winter Olympics. Great Caribbean achievements in sport are recognized by the Sports Hall of Fame of Caribbean, while a panel of journalists often award trophies to top athletes. There is a wide variation in political systems among the islands of the Caribbean, which is partly a reflection of former or current colonial affiliations. These include a revolutionary government in Cuba, parliamentary democracies modeled on the British system in most of the Commonwealth Caribbean, a form of presidential system in the Dominican Republic and an emerging democracy in Haiti. Among the dependent territories, Martinique and Guadeloupe are départements d’outre-mer (overseas departments) of France (and outermost regions of the European Union) and elect members to the national assembly in Paris, whereas the British, Dutch and U.S. territories have locally elected national governments. Different groupings of islands are linked through their membership of various inter-governmental associations and mechanisms (see Table 6). The formal regional mechanism with the broadest membership is the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), based in Trinidad and Tobago, which includes all countries around the Caribbean Basin except the USA. ACS focuses on four areas: trade, transportation, tourism and natural resources. Its objectives are stated as “the strengthening of the regional co-operation and integration process, with a view to creating an enhanced economic space in the region; preserving the environmental integrity of the Caribbean Sea which is regarded as the common patrimony of the peoples of the region; and promoting the sustainable development of the Greater Caribbean.” The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with a secretariat in Guyana, is the other major intergovernmental grouping. Its membership includes the countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean, plus Suriname and Haiti. Moves toward regional integration within CARICOM have recently been strengthened with the establishment of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy and the Caribbean Court of Justice. The Caribbean Single Market and Economy ensures free movement of goods, services, people and capital, and will lead to harmonized laws and social, economic, environmental and trade policies in participating member states. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), with its headquarters in St. Lucia, is a sub-regional grouping comprised of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It facilitates regional cooperation in a number of sectors, including education, environment, health and sports, and is in the process of establishing an Economic Union that makes provisions for common legislation across member states. It is anticipated that environmental legislation is the first area in which member states will move on this front. While the dependent territories of the eastern Caribbean are members of OECS, most are not members of CARICOM or ACS, but are part of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN-ECLAC). Reference Waters, Erika J. (2009). "Paradise Revealed: Readings in Caribbean Literature". Maine Humanities Council. Retrieved Read More