Caribbean Studies notes

(Module 1 Caribbean society and

culture)

UNIT: CARIBBEAN- GLOBAL INTERACTION

TOPIC: IMPACT OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD ON THE CARIBBEAN

POLITICS/LAWS

INFLUENCE OF
EXTRA REGIONAL
SOCIETIES ON THE
CARIBBEAN

MEDIA /
INFORMATION

CULINARY
PRACTICES

PARLIAMENTARY
SYSTEM

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The impact of the outside world is strong and pervasive and highly skewed. The strength of the
influences comes mainly from history; forged by the competition among European superpowers
resulting in cultural domination from metropolitan countries. Today much of the impact is based on the
interaction through trade, education & global information due to our small size, limited resources and
little power. French & Dutch territories are still "living outposts" of metropolitan lifestyles and values.
Independent territories especially former British colonies still maintain ties with their former colonial
power through investment, aid (funds for development in specific areas such as health, education) , trade
( ACP), educational connections, traditions of government and law.
Westminster - Whitehall Model of Parliament- legislature (bicameral with Senate
and House of Representative), Executive (with P.M. and Cabinet), and Judiciary (magistrate, Supreme
Courts). Overlapping of legislature and E independent of the other two.

Education: similar structure - 4 levels of pre-primary, primary, tertiary, until recently (70s)
school leaving certificate based on Certificate of Education; North American System
encroaching Community Colleges concept, naming of classes as grades rather than school

Electoral System: determines kinds of elections and lays dowr to be followed. First Past the
Post/simple majority: contest bet\ candidates for seat in parliament, candidate who polls most
vote (therefore quite possible for party to win majority seats but not Proportional Representation:
number of seats gained by a party proportional to number of votes polled

( no gerrymandering, in politics)

Mass media: means used to communicate messages to large numbers simultaneously) T.V.,
radio, Internet, newspaper, magazines, films/documentaries. Media informs, educates, entertains
and influence behaviour, values and culture. Impacts on taste/consumption pa music, language,
lifestyle etc. Impact greatest where visual imp internet and magazines. We are kept abreast of
what's happening

Tourism results in positive impact: Foreign exchange earnings retention (cultural/heritage

tourism), infrastructural development understanding and appreciation of ones culture; Negative
impact values (nudity and dress codes, prostitution, drug trafficking, environmental pollution
(beaches, damage to coral reefs, erosion through hotel construction, destruction of natural
vegetation, prejudice, landownership etc

Economic of dependence- trading with mother country, got pi export (banana and sugar)

Politics of dependence: our economic potential is influenced Atlantic Nations, their MNCs and
trade organizations

Sports and recreation:: cricket, soccer, tennis, netball as well as maypole dances (European
influence); basketball, hip hop, rap, American football . Halloween (Norm American influence)