Jamol Benjamin Caribbean Studies Form: U6A

Question: What is means to be Caribbean

Essay Title: The Changing Encounter

To understand what is means to be Caribbean bears more than merely a Geographical identity or
a Caribbean nationalism but to be Caribbean gives rise to what is means to share the common
struggle and history that came with colonization and slavery. Freedom from the shackles of
slavery and the confines of our minds became the plight of Caribbean nationals in the past and in
the contemporary society. Since the industrial revolution, the western world developed immense
economic power which amplified their influence on the world and through the use of the power
acquired they can now exploit the Caribbean society by a more acceptable means called
Globalization. Globalization, according to sociologists, is an ongoing process that involves
interconnected changes in the economic, cultural, social, and political spheres of society. As a
process, it involves the ever-increasing integration of these aspects between nations, regions,
communities, and even seemingly isolated places. Culturally, it refers to the global spread and
integration of ideas, values, norms, behaviors, and ways of life. Politically, it refers to the
development of forms of governance that operate at the global scale, whose policies and rules
cooperative nations are expected to abide. These three core aspects of globalization are fueled by
technological development, the global integration of communication technologies, and the global
distribution of media. As in the “Age of Discovery”, Migration, Oppression And Resistance &
Resilience have all been trends that occurred in the 15th century and continue to occur in the 21st
century. As such these trends will be the canvas on which a clear image can be painted of how
the on Globalization is affecting the identity of the Caribbean society.

Migration
Globalization effects on migration has changed the nature of the Caribbean. The importance of
culture is soon being eroded as the world becomes more open and a superior culture is being
presented. This dominant ideology is being absorbed by the Caribbean nationals when they
migrate to western countries. Historically, the presence of the African diaspora in the Caribbean
gave rise to the notion that African slaves /descendants were forced to leave their native land to
migrate to the western world. The second diaspora is now occurring via Globalization where it is
exercised with free will. Conventional thinking says that Caribbean people migrated to the
western world mainly for economic gain and as a result brain drain occurs. This increased
movement of Caribbean people to the western countries have affected the diverse culture found
within the Caribbean. The development of technology (ICT) has enabled the consumption of
media, consumer goods and western consumer lifestyle and consequently propelled Caribbean
nationals to settle and create families in such nations. The authentic culture within the Caribbean
will now be deemed as an inferior culture and as such one in which much prestige and wealth
isn’t attached to. Additionally, with the large influx of Caribbean nationals migrating to the USA
and the UK, the elite’s dominant ideology will now become a part of their lives and consequently
become superior through the process of acculturation. The primary goal of Globalization is to
Jamol Benjamin Caribbean Studies Form: U6A

create a uniformed world where there can be one superior culture and one government and soon
the Caribbean’s identity will become eroded and its history will become a mere memory.

Oppression
The theme of Globalization functions indeed like that of a changing encounter in that it interacts
closely with the theme of oppression. The impetus for globalization comes largely from the
industrialized world (Western Societies). It is in their interest to eliminate tariff barriers, to be
able to move large amount of capital quickly, and to be able to locate their operations wherever
they wish. The innovations in ICT have contributed greatly to this. The establishment of Multi-
national companies with their headquarters in industrialized countries, have in the past
dominated the world economy, but as globalization continues rapidly, their domination is
becoming hegemonic. The Caribbean Society, like most developing countries are caught in a
predicament. The cannot opt out of a globalized world. They must interact with a world where
the norms and practices are changing and thus they must change with them and consequently
lose their diversity and authenticity. For example, the Caribbean region is accustomed to
negotiating with Britain or France as their past colonial masters to sell their agricultural produce.
Now with the establishment of the European Union (EU) which doesn’t react favorably to past
preferential trade agreements forced Caribbean countries to find another market to sell their
produce. To cope with this problem, Caribbean countries have had to align themselves with
various regional, sub regional and bilateral integration scheme such as the OECS ,CARICOM ,
MERCOSUR , ACS, etal . In a globalized world the Industrialized counties benefit the most
.Caribbean countries have no choice but to streamline their operations in the interest of being
competitive .This scenario is reminiscent of the power relations operating since the “Age Of
Discovery” .The activities of Multinational Corporations and the regulations of organizations
such as the European union and the World trade organization act as neo-colonialist regimes
.Although most Caribbean countries are now politically independent ,economic ties bind them
even more firmly to an unequal trading and dependent relationship of their former bosses. It is
said that the Caribbean still have a plantation economy. There is very little indigenous capital
and investment. Most of our industries are produced by Multinational companies who act as
absentee landlords with net flows of capital out of the region. The specific countries and trade
arrangements may have changed since the days of conquest and colonization , but the balance of
power and exploitative relationship between the Caribbean and the industrialized countries
remain the same .Thus the question is to decide if the Caribbean bears an identity or if it ever did
.This question was erupted due to the fact that after independence , they have been streamlining
behind their previous colonial masters and slowly the sense of the elites ideology was dispersed
throughout the Caribbean and however small , they attach more respect to the elite’s culture.

Resistance & Resilience

Caribbean people have always responded to oppressive policies and institutions through
strategies’ of resistance and resilience .It is no different in this contemporary age . Globalization
Jamol Benjamin Caribbean Studies Form: U6A

is being viewed for what it really is which is both a threat and an opportunity for Caribbean
states and thus this realization has generated a range of responses .On the World stage , we see
reactions to a globalized world dominated by the USA and the European Union . The reach of
global companies and the stifling effect some of them are having on small economies, poses a
particular threat to some world views. Global companies, which are capitalist ventures , are seen
as threatening to groups who are communistic and communal such as religions. The later tend to
oppose a globalized thrust because they too are about a set of all-encompassing principles for the
world. Thus , at the same time companies are expanding and tending to homogenize the world
culturally through the capitalist way of life there are communal forms that are deliberately
opposed to it . This represents the nativist challenge to globalization. Thus, fundamental
religions oppose the values of the neo-liberal capitalist market dominated by materialism. Faced
with the threat of a globalized economy / culture , there is a retreat to nationalism and what
people or groups gives them an identity .As Caribbean countries attempt to maintain their
cultural identity many local groups long for a sense of belonging and consequently ask the
question “who are we and what drives us” , the response to this capitalist project has been peace
and freedom. These local groups are now retreating from the mainstream -nativism and reducing
the exploitation of the environment and groups such as the ‘green movement’ which oppose the
mass production of foods using chemical fertilizers and other substances harmful to man and the
environment.
In conclusion, to determine what it means to be Caribbean alludes to the struggles that they have
faced that shaped the region. In the formation of a world economic power being present and the
inability to resist their terms, what forms the Caribbean identity is their ability to resist any form
of oppression and maintain their authenticity. As slavery and colonialization was used to
implement forceful labor and the enforcing of a dominant culture, this is shown once again by
the use of Globalization. Globalization may function as an escape from poverty for many
undeveloped nations but it forges the question that “whether economic stability can attach a price
to a country’s identity?” As in the “Age of Discovery”, Migration, Oppression And Resistance &
Resilience have all been trends that occurred in the past and they are now occurring once again.
Not only is there hint of the presence of a plantation society but the question of whether slavery
is really died or it has just morphed into an acceptable form in which the phages of it can be
Anesthetized by freedom and opportunities.
Jamol Benjamin Caribbean Studies Form: U6A

Bibliography
https://www.thoughtco.com/globalization-definition-3026071
http://etec.ctlt.ubc.ca/510wiki/Globalization_and_its_Effect_on_Cultural_Diversity
https://www.britannica.com/place/western-Africa/Colonization