Caribbean Global Interaction

Caribbean Studies

Week 6

Grade 13 Alpha

Presentation by Steven Williams

Not a teacher, but a “facilitator of learning”

Imperialism and Colonialism Neocolonialism and Post-Colonialism Influence of Extra-Regional Countries on the

Caribbean. Consumption patterns Creative Expression Politics Migration Sports Tourism

Since the time of Columbus, the Caribbean has been involved in interaction with Europe and more recently US and Canada.

These countries are known as 'Western Countries', 'the West' or 'Metropolitan Countries'.

The interaction was an early form of Globalization.

However the relationship between there countries are grossly imbalanced.

The influence of these Western Countries on Caribbean society and culture and visa versa.

The age of imperialism began with the coming

of the Europeans who conquered the lands

and peoples and established colonies.

Imperial powers ruled through a combination

of military might; fear; and deliberate

psychological conditioning.

During colonialism, European attitudes, ways of life, dress, language, arts and political systems became hegemonic in the Caribbean.

The colony became apart of Europe ( it was not allowed to have its own national identity).

Regarded as periphery part of Europe.

Memmi (1991) cited about the relationship between the colonizers and the colonized: The relationship was one of Exploitation The relationship was based on racism Those who ruled were ordinary in Europe but

superior in the colonies. Their culture was regarded as superior. They suppressed and showing of creativity and self

sufficiency amongst the colonized.

School curriculum reflected the culture of the colonizers.

The history of the colonized was regarded as 'other'. (marginalized)

Some of the colonized became like the colonizers because it made more sense to them. (Survival)

They were rewarded minor and middle positions in civil service and professional jobs ( teaching, law, medicine).

They suppressed their own people bu emulating and promoting a position where European ways was the 'right way'

Independence and nationhood are debatable

concepts in Caribbean reality.

Dominant attitudes, cultural form, modes of

dress educational , religious and judicial

systems and trading pattern have great

retention of the metropole and not the

periphery.

The legacy of the colonizers are still hegemonic.

The current structures in the global economy threaten independence and sovereignty.

Multinational Companies (MNCs) head quarters in the metropole repatriate huge profit from the the region.

WTO trading regulations and practices are mostly

in favour of Western countries.

The Dominance of the West in the trading

industries, manufacturing and Information and

communications technologies (ITCs) means that

Caribbean are mostly importers of goods and

services.

This leads to an imbalance in trading relationship.

The relationship between the ex-colonizers and ex-colonized is described as Neocolonialism.

Western countries continue to wield cultural hegemony via the media ( cable television).

Western countries wield economic hegemony through the policies of MNCs , the WTO and the dominance of ITCs.

Caribbean countries are thus in a perpetual state of dependency- very similar to the colonial era (neocolonialism).

The debate: whether we should conform to the western ideals of development or make our own.

In the Caribbean the more affluent , the technologically inclined and those who value western life style will be using the same technology as are used in the US, watching the same news and cable programmes, being fans of the same R& B or hip hop artiste and probably also dressing the same way.

Post-colonial society is a term used to describe how neocolonial relationships of continued dominance and subjugation affect people in ex-colonies.

The post colonial stance condemns activities and attitudes that maintain neocolonial relationships and examines how eurocentic ideas, philosophies and ways of life are perpetuated, resisted and recreated in the ex-colonies.

This is where Western values and beliefs are melted with Caribbean traditions or other combinations and stance.

Extra-Regional Countries Influence of the Caribbean Culture and Society.

Post Colonial theory shows how the dominance of the West is perpetuated, resisted or creatively integrated into Caribbean society and culture by interaction between metropole and periphery and and by the mechanism of socialization.

Europe and more recently the US have profoundly influence consumption patterns in the Caribbean.

The skewed economic relationship create and encourages dependency.

Most goods and service consumed in the Caribbean originate from the West.

The Post Colonial theory postulates that consumption patterns are the way there are because of the following– People in the Caribbean value more what comes

from 'foreign' eg, clothes , music, technology and ideas.

1.People in the Caribbean are extremely obsessed with the importance of being modern. People sees the Western material and non material culture as being modern thus, they demand the latest innovation fashion, movies, music, and personalities that are 'happening' in the Western world now.

Building of social Capital: more people prefer the bran name clothings and to be in the high fashion of the US and Europe. Those especially among our young people who cannot afford the luxury are ridiculed.

Many argue that the Caribbean does not offer and competitive alternative and therefore they maintain what the trend demands.

1.There is a universal feeling that the US is a 'must see' destination and even an 'only see'. It is even said that to have a US visa, even a holiday visa is a prestigious status symbol.

While Caribbean creative expressions are unique in themselves, they show strong influence of extra- regional countries, namely those of the European colonizers.

Western Countries have influenced our festivals: Holy Festivals: that came from the Roman

Catholics and the Anglican church.

Christmas and Easter: now are celebrated in tandem with

the images seen in the media- highly commercialized.

Holy days:Corpus Christe, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday

and All Souls Day. These are observed in US and Britain.

Valentine's day Old years night / new years eve. These are perpetuated by foreign media.

Mother's Day Father's Day Halloween

All are greatly influenced and packaged by US culture via the media (Cable Television).

Caribbean music is known for its resistant themes, undoubtedly spring from the regions history of oppression- Colonialism, bonded labour and social stratification.

The most successful musical forms generated by the British Caribbean are Reggae, Calypso and Steelband.

Originated the the tenement yards of Jamaica and among the shanty towns and urban poor in T&T respectfully.

Reggae music has a universal appeal because it has a message of resistance, defiance and hope for a better tomorrow.

Reggae offered a message which all persons who are oppressed in some way can identify.

It is the identity of the oppressed towards freedom.

Calypsonians sought to expose the inequities such as Racism and political oppression and voice alternative opinions to that of the colonial politics run by the Roman Catholic Church.

Calypso was the means whereby the poor and the powerless could resist and ridicule the highest authority.

Reggae and its various form (Dancehall, Ragamuffin) and calypso and its various forms(soca, ringband, chutney soca, rapso, raggasoca) evolved in response to the demand from the younger generation for musical forms and styles that identified with world youth culture and music.

In the Caribbean theatre arts include cultural forms presented in open air or any suitable place.

Traditional dances, limbo, stick fights, folk singing, chanting, drumming and story telling.

And the rituals associated with wakes, wedding ceremonies, carnivals and Jankunno.

These programmes combine drama and dance in a stage setting whether formal or informal, planned or spontaneous.

The arts we enjoy relegated from the colonial era and was taken to the street during festivals and celebrations.

Plays, dramatic performance, pantomimes and musical productions were modelled after Bristish and American.

After independence there was an emancipation of logical creative arts__ the indigenous way.

The Extra-Regional countries influence was very evident in our creative arts in allot of what is largely Caribbean was stifled.

The debate that Patois was too difficult to understand, was the premise on which it was tabooed in theatre. They embraced standard English.

Yet more people lobbied for the use of patois because it was a Caribbean expression.

Many of the our famous writers and playwrights felt compelled to leave the Caribbean.

The West presented opportunities for them to develop their skills and talents and gain the recognition worth of world appreciation.

The west played and important role in their growth and development by the exposure to training and opportunities to do what they do best.

Culinary arts in the Caribbean show a high degree of creative adaptation of food traditions of Europe, Africa, India, China and the Pre-columbian people.

Fusion is at the art of culinary practices in the Caribbean.

Salt Fish or Cod Fish is a staple across the Caribbean:

Jamaica- Ackee and Saltfish

St Vincent- Roast Breadfruit and saltfish

Antigua- Duckanoo and saltfish

Saltfish was imported from Canada to feed the

slaves hence its retention in Caribbean diet.

Animal parts that were not considered

consumable were used to feed the slaves.

Also allot of smoked and salted food was

used during slavery.

In the Caribbean today, many of these animal parts have become delicacies in our diets:

In Barbados: Pig foot, skin, ears, and face are important ingredients in souse.

In Jamaica: Salt beef and pig tail in stew peas and peas soupRed herring, chicken foot for soup, fish

head for fish tea,Goat belly and head for manish water.Cow tripe for tripe and beans.

Oxtail is a delicacy in Jamaica and is very expensive.

Once deemed only for slave consumption, these foods have undergone centuries of blending with different flavours and spices to produce some of the favourate foods of Caribbean people in all walks of life.

It is debatable whether Britain influence is alive in the cooking traditions of Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Caribbean cooking is usually spicy which comes from the Caribs, Africans and Indians:

Eg: curries, jerk pork/chicken,escovitch fish, chutney and pepper pot.

Only some foods are from Britain eg. Irish potato.

Britain habit of drinking tea still remains with

us.

Britain have traditionally use sauces and

gravies made separately from their dishes.

Caribbean people have retain this practice but

more commonly they make the gravy or sauce

an integral part of the cooking process.

British retention can be seen in our love for porridge for breakfast:

Corn meal Porridge

Rice Porridge

Banana Porridge

Plantain Porridge

Flour Porridge

The introduction of technology from the North has influence culinary practice in the Caribbean: Baking usually was done from scratch, now is

replaced by Pillsbury and Betty Crocker pre- mix baters.

The medium for baking has been change from the coal stove: fire on the top and fire at the bottom and hallelujah in the middle to the use of ovens and microwaves.

We have adopted appliance and culinary practice that are advertise in the media, for example, frozen foods etc.

Other things are pre-done such as hams, cakes and we have adopted cookies as apart of our confectioneries.

Fast foods have supplemented the diets of busy Caribbean people_ adopting the culture of the West.

The junk food phenomena has earned loyalty among our young people.

Fast food chains from the US are well represented and profitable in the Caribbean: The Burger King in Half Way Tree make the most money in the world- Fortune Five hundred statistics.

There are negative effect on the health and

life expectancy in the Caribbean.

Home cooking however is not dying as many

Jamaicans are adamant to have rice and pea

and chicken on Sundays.

Model of government: Westminister System Head of government: Prime Minister Called: Constitutional Monarch There is no SEPARATION OF POWERS between

the executive and legislature. Head of state: Governor General – Ceremonial

role. Jamaica, Belize and Barbados. T&T, Guyana and Dominica -Republican forms of

govt with a president with Ceremonial roles.

We adopted the Westminister model

unopposed

Main issues with the system is separation of

powers and the power of the PM.

It compromises democracy because the PM is

too powerful.

Solutions:

Constitutional reform

A move to Republican system

A mixture of Republicanism and Westminister

system

A traditional practice of Caribbean people Aim is to find a better life Positive Impacts:

Remittances: second largest industry in Jamaica. Positive economic growth

Negative Impacts: Cultural erasure: people adopting the culture of

returning residence. Brain drain Racism and injustice done to migrants (Caribbean

nationals)

Cricket has dominated sports in the British Caribbean

After slavery cricket was a means of maintaining superiority over the blacks.

It was only played by elite Club. It was called the gentleman sports.

The game was just for sportsmanship and a celebration of British Culture.

The game was stratified according to race and colour.

Many Caribbean people tried to change the sports to fit Caribbean culture and society at it became more popular.

A turn came about when the West Indies Cricket team beat England in 1950- this was a mile stone for the Caribbean people.

The sports was then creolized in resistance to sportsmanship and celebration of British culture.

Caribbean people resisted the gentleness of

the sports by introducing fast bowling that in

most was terrorized batsmen.

Calypso was used to confirm the importance

of Cricket to Caribbean society and culture.

1950S victory went down in carnival style.

Cricket is now internationalized among

commonwealth countries and has become

very commercialized.

Millions of dollars of profits and salaries are

garnered by players and investors alike.

An increase commercial potential is still rising.

Popular in the Caribbean because of the mass media

Attractive to young tall black men Caribbean nationals have benefited and gave

recognition: Patrick Ewing; Shaquille O'neal; Tim Duncan.

Basketball is fast base (40mins); no room for boredom unlike cricket that is 1day.

Scholarships and opportunities encourage strong support for the game in the Caribbean.

Has taken the world like storm The most popular game today Caribbean have not been able to pool a regional

team; but national teams have represented us in the last 40yrs: Haiti 1974; Reggae Boyz-Jamaica 1997; T&T Soca Warriors 2006.

Many still seek recognition and scholarship to the US.

Many talented Caribbeans hope to assume prominence in European leagues

Creates dependency than any other industry.

The taste and preferences of visitors determine

the tourism product we offer.

Most tourist come from North America and

Europe – A boom or recession can affect us

directly.

This is one of the main destination for

Europeans and Americans.

Many countries have developed their sector to meet world-class standard: Jamaica Barbados Antigua The Bahamas The Virgin Islands St Lucia

A wave of technology and a environmental revolution has created changes in the tourism product Caribbeans offer:Eco-tourism:Tourism in keeping with

environmentally sound principle,use of flora and fauna to cater to nature lovers: Belize, Guyana, Dominica and Suriname.

Adventure Tourism: use of adventure to cater to tourist, Guyana- river rafting and canoeing.

Sports Tourism: associated with water sports, surfing, scuba diving.

Festival Tourism: use of festival to attract tourist, St Lucia- Jazz Festival; Jamaica – Reggae Sun splash.

Cruiseship Tourism:countries are constructing docking facilities to accommodate major cruise lines:Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival.

Caribbean people are cashing in on the opportunities:

Vending at the ports

Taxi drives and tour guides

Local businesses such as car rentals

Restaurants

Local Arts and Craft shops

Few Caribbean national own large all inclusive

successful hotels with the exception of

Gordon 'Butch' Stewart.

Sandal and Breaches

On a whole tourism is heavily controlled by

foreign interest, events and even world

environmental lobby.

Political Influence: Migration Narcotics

Economic Influence: Trade Festivals

Cultural influence: Caribbean Music Rastafarianism Culinary Practices

Migrants are seriously focused on debates on immigration policy (US, Canada and Europe).

Migrants are experience racism and hostility The deportation of people back in the

Caribbean has a serious issue to Caribbean government.

Better policies are tabled for co-operation between US and Caribbean.

Caribbean nationals are influencing US politics The Cuban population in Florida:

They have formed powerful association: Cuban American Foundation to enforce the trade embargo and maintain hard-line force attitude toward Cuba.

Caribbean People have attained high position in US govt to influence policy.

Many have dual citizenship. The inclusion of the diasporic community

involvement in the governance of the Caribbean.