Caribbean-Global Interactions Flashcards
Caribbean-Global Interactions
The formation of Caribbean society was based on migration, and its people have adopted a culture of continued migration since the abolition of slavery in the 19th century. This migration only intensified with the ad advent of industrialisation, which gave rise to more advanced means of transportation being used to get to other parts of the Caribbean, Central and North America, Europe and even parts of Africa and Asia. This migration has inevitably led to Caribbean people adopting many aspects of culture of these places while at the same time imparting aspects of Caribbean culture on their societies.
Caribbean Influences on Extra-Reginal Countries
Due to extensive migration, especially since the beginning of the 20th century, it is true to say that the Caribbean has influenced and contributed to the societies and cultures of North America and Europe. However, many argue that the ‘outward’ influence of the region is more limited than the ‘inward’ impacts created by the legacy of colonialism and the current hegemony of globalisation.
Political Issues
-Visa and citizenship related policies and laws usually implemented in host countries to regulate the number and nature of more immigrants than their resources can manage, added to the fact that they need to ensure that immigrants are not fugitives or criminals who intend to expand their activities.
-Labour laws relating to the documentation and treatment of immigrants are also implemented to protect them from exploitation. These laws also ensure that immigrants are absorbed into industries that need their labor, and that they are not competing for spaces in industries that are already heavily subscribed.
-The arrival of immigrants, and especially the establishment of immigrant communities, can lead to racial tensions. In the UK, this surfaced in the Notting Hill riots in 1958 and was dealt with politically and judicially by a series of Race Relations Acts in the 1960s and 1970s, which have since been replaced by the Equality Act of 2010.
The Political Impact of Cubans and Haitians on US Politics
The Impact of Caribbean Festivals
The migration of Caribbean nationals to North America, Canada and the United Kingdom has led to the spread of Caribbean culture to these extra-regional socieities. One of the main cultural forms to be transplanted is the Caribbean manner of celebrating special occasions, especially Carnival. This has become contagious in other parts of the world, especially London, Toronto and New York, but it also popular in the form of smaller festivals in other parts of the UK and North America that have sizeable Caribbean communities, because Caribbean festivals are imbued with popular cultural forms (music, dress, dance and cuisine)
Positive Impact on Festivals
- Strengthens the presence and impact of a Caribbean community in the host country and informs and educates local people about Caribbean history and culture.
- Provides an introduction to and promotion of Caribbean music, dance and food potentially leading to increased demand for these goods, products and services.
- An economic earner for host countries. Caribbean business can also develop out of these festivals as their presence can be a productive marketing tool.
Negative Impact of Festivals
- Host country nationals may look down on Caribbean cultural symbols and identity because they are not familiar with them, in particular there may be negative views of the nature of the sometimes erotic dancing and suggestive lyrics of many songs played at festivals.
- The festivals may be seen a an inconvenience for many locals who have no interest in taking part, as roads are closed and public spaces are dedicated to the festivities and celebrations.
- They may incite feelings of xenophobia among the nationals of host countries, who may feel that the influence of Caribbean people is too strong in their country or locality because of the sheer size of the Caribbean festivities. In the early years of the Notting Hill carnival, for example, there were incidents of racially incited violence.
The Impact of Migrant Labour on Metropolitan Countries
Much of the historic migration from the Caribbean to metropolitan countries, especially since the early 20th century, has been for the purpose of work; more opportunities, better jobs, better conditions and higher wages have been major pull factors. After the Second World War, many migrants left the Caribbean for Europe to support the post-war rebuilding efforts, fill gaps in the labor market and provide essential services.
Migrant labour from the Caribbean, whether temporary and seasonal or more permanent, has had an impact on the societies and economies of the host countries. For example, a shortage of nurses in post-war Britain resulted in young Caribbean women being recruited to go to the UK to train as nurses in the newly established National Health Service, which they helped build.
The Impact of Rastafari
There are more than one million practicing Rastafari in the world and it has become a transitional movement with adverts spread globally from Japan to Botswana to the US. The movement grew out of 1930s Pan-Africanism in Jamaica and promoted many doctrines advocated by Marcus Garvey and often preached the unification of the black race, black militancy against white oppressors and colonisers, black leadership in black states, and the promotion of black-owned businesses and enterprises that would lesson dependence on white employers.
Ways Rastafari has affected elements of societies and culture throughout the world
- The Rastafarian dress code has become popular globally and is instantly recognisable. The wearing of locks, for instance, has become a mainstay in the fashion world and is embraced by people of all races.
- Rastafarians use the colours of red, gold and green as their symbol of resistance to colonialism. These colour combinations are used in clothing and accessories as a fashion statement, embraced by many who are not practising Rastafari.
- Rastafari culture has contributed to economies throughout the world via Rastafari musical acts headlining international music festivals.
Influences of Extra-regional Societies on the Caribbean
Caribbean society carries heavy metropolitan influences in many areas, especially in main institutions such as family, religion and the justice system, as part of the colonial legacy. Since the mid-20th century, and the achievement of independence, other external forces have come to bear on the region in the form of globalisation, which fosters, and even imposes, homogeneity in aspects such as culture, norms and values, economics, politics and so on.
Consumption Patterns
Remittances- the importance of remittances, from Caribbeans who either work or are permanently settle abroad, to the economy of the region cannot be understated. Not only do they provide support for family members still located in the home country, but they are also an important source of foreign exchange.
Goods and Services- historically the colonies were designated as a source of raw materials for the metropole and so plantations were dependent on metropolitan imports, and a surviving legacy of this reliance is a general taste in the region for foreign goods, with the kudos they carry and their perceived superiority over local production, for which there is no long-established tradition.
Art Forms
The impact of Colonialism- as with other aspects of Caribbean culture, colonial influences come into play, but are often diluted or adapted with local elements and traditions. Often ‘high art’ is the form that most reflects that of the colonial powers, while more popular or grassroots cultural forms have uniquely Caribbean characteristics. Many of the religious festivals celebrated across the region are Christian and were originally imported with the colonists, and even the archetypal Caribbean festival- carnival- derives from Christianity.
Music,Theatre Arts, Visual Arts- the more internationally popular Caribbean music types, such as reggae and calypso, as well as the steelpan bands all originated at the popular and grassroots level and response to colonialism and the restrictions imposed by authority. At the other end of the cultural scale, ‘high culture’, represented by classical music, fine art and so on, was and still is strongly identified with colonial traditions and the upper classes.
Education
The Impact of Colonialism- throughout the colonial period, education reflected and served the needs of the metropole and the plantation elite over and above the majority of the population. Access was restricted and only after emancipation was it progressively granted to the children of ex-slaves, with universal secondary education only achieved post-independence.
The Information Age- increased use and penetration if information technology, particularly the Internet, has both contributed to and been a result of the general and ongoing process of globlisation. For the Caribbean, this has meant more open exposure to external cultural influences, but also, for a scattered island region, it has facilitated communications, the sharing of information and distance learning, especially at tertiary level.
Langauge- standard English, as used in formal situations and official documents, is the form of English used and taught in schools and other educational institutions. There is a belief and an expectation that this should be the form of English in which education is delivered. However, this does not reflect the complex and diverse situation in language that exists across the region, with the ‘European’ form rarely spoken in informal situations.
Curriculum Reform- just talk about education reform :(
Political Influences
Nowadays, by dint of location if nothing else, the Us is the main power to exert political influence over the region. It controls much of the financial aid received by countries through institutions such as the IMF and until the end of the Cold War had a vested interest in keeping the Caribbean nations ‘on side’ and away from communist influence, which had already taken hold of Cuba.
