This document discusses the cultural influences between the Caribbean and other regions, particularly North America and Europe. It notes that [1] Caribbean consumption patterns are heavily influenced by imported foreign goods, [2] creative expressions like festivals have incorporated commercial and technological influences from abroad, and [3] migratory labor programs have benefited Caribbean workers but rely on policies set by host countries. The document also explores how [4] tourism development, [5] mass media, [6] politics, [7] economics, and [8] culture have seen two-way influences between the Caribbean and other regions.

2. 1. Consumption patterns
Most of the goods and services consumed in the Caribbean are produced in N.
America, especially the US, and to a lesser extent Britain (for English-speaking
countries) In post-independent Caribbean the desire for what is ‘foreign’ is
supported by a number of factors:
(a) The belief that foreign is better than local (in respect of quality, price,
and taste)
(b) The concept of ‘modern’ is best exemplified by Western music, styles,
personalities, etc. and therefore such association was most desirable.
(c) That a positive self-image, particularly for youth, is conferred by the
possession of designer wear and accessories for which there is no alternative in
the Caribbean.
(d) The widely held view that the US is the destination of choice and only
place worth seeing for a vacation.

3. 2. Creative Expressions
The various ways Caribbean people express themselves in festivals, music,
theatre arts, etc, reflect their own creations as well as influences from abroad.
US penetration of the region means that its influence is expanding through the
access of particularly the youth to its music fashions and festivals.
i. Festivals: Some of the well-established Christian and secular festivals that are
observed in the Caribbean – Christmas, Easter, Father’s and Mother’s Day,
Valentines, etc- are extra-regional in origin. They are celebrated in the same
fashion and characterized by the same extent of commercialism as in developed
societies. It is the commercial aspect of the celebrations that marks the degree
of Western influence.
Carnival though not indigenous had been made synonymous with the
Caribbean. In recent times it too has begun to cater to foreign tastes in a
number of ways including:
The sidelining of calypso with it social commentary in favour of the more
catchy soca.
The use of computer programmes to help create images of costumes
The production of videos, DVDs, etc.

4. ii.Theatre arts: Theatre arts include drama, dance and stagecraft, as well as,
traditional dances, folk singing and story telling. In colonial times Caribbean
theatre arts were relegated to the village communities while the ‘high culture of
the British was given pre-eminence. The development of theatre arts since
independence reflects the influence of extra-regional countries in respect of:
divisions as to the appropriate language i.e. patios/dialect versus Standard
English, to convey the arts. Many of the themes in presentations mirrored the
relationship of the Caribbean to extra regional countries – issues of identity,
race, colour and class, etc. The migration of many artistes to receive greater
appreciation and rewards for their talents, e.g V.S. Niapal, Dereck Walcott,
Jamaica Kincaid.

5. 3. Migratory labour
From the middle of the 1950s migration to N. America and Europe was
severely curtailed as developed countries sought to protect their
economies from unregulated immigration. However in the 1980’s, on
the recognition of the ageing of these societies, formal arrangements
were made to recruit skilled professionals- teacher, nurses.
Opportunities were also available for semi-skilled and unskilled labour
in sectors not favoured by citizens, such as agricultural and domestic
work and child care. While these occupations are more beneficial to
workers vis-à-vis similar work in the Caribbean and the remittances
significant to Gross National Product of Caribbean countries the
programmes sustainability is decided by the host countries. Any time
they are curtailed, suspended or discontinued, severe dislocations in the
sending countries is the result.

6. 4. Tourism
Caribbean tourism depends almost entirely for its survival on visitors
from Europe and N. America. Economic downturns in the source
markets have a negative impact on the local product. All variants of
tourism- adventure, cruise, eco-tourism- are developed on tourists’
demands. Furthermore, the tourism infra-structure- large hotels, travel
agencies, etc, are owned and/or managed in large part by expatriates.

7. 5. Mass media in terms of cultural imperialism thesis
The cultural imperialism thesis attempts to explain the impact of
Western mass media in Caribbean society and culture. The thesis
purports that the cultural products exported to developing countries by
the foreign mass media are adopted at the expense of native culture.
Television has the most powerful of foreign influence in the Caribbean.
Some 75% of TV programming in the English speaking-Caribbean
originate outside the region, primarily in the US. Foreign influence
come in the form of:
music and lifestyle
fundamentalist religious programming
soap and sitcoms
the packaging and reporting of news
the over-abundance of US views news and perspectives.

8. 6.Political Influence
The most organized group of Caribbean nationals in the US are the
Cubans and they have had significant influence on US politics because
of their number and economic power. They represent a major voting
bloc in South Florida. They have been credited with:
‘forcing’ law makers to maintain and strengthen the trade embargo
against Cuba (key legislation the Helms-Burtons Act 1996)
the creation of Radio Marti, with the expressed intention to
undermine the communist system in Cuba through the flow of
information.

9. 7.Economic Influence
The Caribbean depends heavily on extra-regional countries
particularly the US for its economic survival. Nevertheless, it has
positively influenced the larger economies in areas such as:
trade: the Caribbean is the 10th largest importer of US goods
and services and created thousands of jobs in export businesses
(Mohammed 2007).
festivals: thousands of jobs and millions of dollar and pounds
in revenues are generated from the Caribbean-derived
Nottinghill Carnival in London and Canada’s Caribana.
labour: there are formal government to government
arrangements under which Caribbean nationals provide service
in the agricultural and domestic work sectors

10. 8.Cultural Influence
Caribbean cultural forms and expressions have penetrated international markets and gained
acceptance. The impact of Caribbean music largely reggae and to some extent soca, is felt
mainly in the urban centers of large cities such as New York and London. Reggae has been used
to market Levi jeans (Boombastic)create an online course ‘ The Rhetoric of Reggae’ at the
University of Vermont.Reggae has been the vehicle that transported Rastafari beliefs and
lifestyle to the wider world. Rastafari communities and reggae are to be found on every
continent.
The steel-pan was also transported to developed countries with the migrants. Currently, in
N.America steel-band music is part of the curriculum, while the tuning of pan is a growing skill
that has the potential to contribute to the economic development of this region. One
association, Pan European, is assuming the responsibility for creating a network to promote the
development of pan in Europe. The steel-pan is also incorporated into forms of music like rap.
Caribbean cuisine competes with those of other ethnic groups in the urban centers in
metropolitan countries. While companies like Golden Crust and Caribbean Food Delight have
become big business in the US, Caribbean food caters mainly to the taste of Caribbean
populations but remains a specialty to native populations particularly those who have visited
the Caribbean or who have close association with Caribbean nationals.