This document provides an overview of Caribbean society and culture. It discusses the geographic location and definitions of the Caribbean region, as well as characteristics of Caribbean society such as cultural diversity and the impact of historical processes like slavery and indentureship. The document also examines social stratification in the Caribbean and the hybridization of cultures. It analyzes the effects of geography, institutions, and global interactions on Caribbean society and culture, as well as Caribbean influences abroad through areas like migration, music, and festivals.

1. Caribbean Studies module 1
Caribbean Society & Culture

2. Location and definition of the
Caribbean region
 Geographic location
 Names of territories
 Sub-regions: Greater Antilles, Lesser
Antilles, western Caribbean, Southern
Caribbean, The Bahamas
 Position of the Caribbean in relation
to the Caribbean sea, Atlantic Ocean
and the continental land masses.

3. Definitions of the Caribbean
 Geographical
 Geological
 Historical
 Political
 Caribbean identity and culture

4. Characteristics of society
 Shared common purpose
 A defined territorial space
 Continuity over time and space
 Citizenship within a space

5. Culture
 Learned behaviour common to all
human beings
 Norms and values which provide a
guide to behaviour
 Institutions which prescribe behaviour

6. Characteristics of Caribbean
Society and Culture
 Cultural diversity
 Positive and negative effects of
cultural diversity
 Ethnic and cultural differences
 Accommodation made among
different ethnic groups with respect
to space, political and economic
power and social visibility

7. Social Stratification
 Plantation society and its impact on
Caribbean social stratification (race,
colour, money)
 Education as basis for new class
formation and upward mobility (social
mobility)
 Concepts such as plantocracy,
intelligentsia, middle class,
bourgeoise, working class,
underclass, caste

8. Hybridization
 Factors such as racial admixture and
colour in the formation of Caribbean
society and culture, terms like
mulatto, mestizo, dougla,
transculturation, creole
 Erasure, retention and renewal of
cultural practices

9. Impact of Historical Processes
 Migratory movements and the
establishment of patterns of
settlement by different groups within
the Caribbean from pre-Columbian
times to the present
 The development of systems of
production: encomienda, slavery,
indentureship, the plantation system

10. History cont’
 Responses of Caribbean people to
oppression and genocide: resistance,
development of peasant groups
 Movements towards independence
 Political enfranchisement

11. Political enfranchisement
 Adult suffrage
 Internal self-government
 Economic enfranchisement
 Entrepreneurial activities, including
shopkeeping and savings societies

12. Geographical impact on society and
culture
 Plate tectonics
 Definition
 Location and movement of the
Caribbean plate
 Earthquakes and volcanoes: social
displacement
 hurricanes

13. Geographical impact cont’
 Soils – erosion, conservation
 Coral reefs – coastal protection,
sustainability of fishing industry
 droughts

14. Impact of societal institutions
 Family
 Education
 Religion
 Justice System

15. Caribbean-Global Interactions
 Consumption patterns: goods and
services
 Creative expressions: festivals,
music, theatre arts, culinary practices
 Education: impact of colonialism; the
information age, language;
curriculum reforms, for example,
teaching Caribbean Studies in
universities in the UK

16. Global interactions: Political
influences
 Westminster System: Constitutional
monarchy (Jamaica, Barbados and
Bahamas)
 Rule of law
 Electoral process: first-past-the post
system
 Caribbean contribution to the political
life of the host communities of Europe
and north America

17. Global impact continued
 Labour: influence of migratory labour
 Sport- cricket, soccer, basketball,
track and field
 Religion – traditional and non-
traditional religious practices
 Mass Media
 Tourism

18. Caribbean influences on extra-
regional countries
 Important political issues created
within countries of Europe and North
America by presence of large
numbers of Caribbean people (for
example, impact of Haitians and
Cubans living in Florida upon the
politics of that State)

19. Caribbean impact abroad cont’
 The impact of Caribbean festivals like
Notting Hill Carnival in the United
Kingdom, Labour Day in Brooklyn,
Carnival in Miami and Caribana in
Canada on the economies of the
areas where they occur; the impact of
migrant labour on the economies of
the countries of North America

20. Caribbean impact abroad cont’
 The impact of festivals and music of the
Caribbean (for example, carnival, calypso,
reggae, Punta, salsa, zouk), upon the
festivals, music, pageants and street
parades of the countries of North America,
Europe, Africa and Japan
 Impact of Rastafarianism
 Influence of Caribbean culinary practices