POS Caribbean Exam 2

National Identity

A shared sense of belonging, social norms/values, and culture that contributes to the specific collective identity of that region/ nation. Even with differencing racial/ethnic groups a shared sense of belonging can be achieved. Jamaica has both black Jamaicans, indian Jamaicans, and asian Jamaicans but they are able to have a shared national identity of being Jamaican.

What was China & Taiwan's effect on Caribbean?

After China and Taiwan dispute on Taiwan wanting to be a sovereign country separate from China Caribbean islands had the opportunity to chose to align with one country at a time or both in the long-run; China strengthened ties with Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) which provided countries: Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua, and Barbuda, with the opportunity to have money/ loans from China for infrastructure and economic cooperation; Infrastructures: transportation roads/highways/ ports, and energy sources like power plants and renewable energy; Taiwan connect with St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Belize, Haiti, and St. Vincent on things like infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture; Healthcare--> medical trainings/ disease prevention, medical infrastructure; Agriculture--> technology from crop cultivation/pest control, training and exchange programs; Education--> scholarship programs, academic exchange programs, cultural education, and research

Neo-Liberalism

Fights for a free market/ free trade and wants to reduce government interference on small businesses and corporations. This has been encouraged by colonial powers and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to give islands a sense of 'independence' and economic stability. Trinidad and Tobago experienced this.

Colonialism

Forcibly taking a country or region and exploiting the people for your own need. This oftentimes came with enslavement of indigenous and African people which leads to erasure of differing cultures and their people. This can also create differencing racial groups in countries like Cuba with white Cubans, black Cubans, and mullatto's.

Gender

Is socially constructed and a way to look at the different experiences of women and men in the Caribbean. Women are usually paid less and subjected to do things like free child labor because of traditional cultural beliefs. Women in the Bahamas make 70% less than men.

Post- Colonialism

Looks at the effects of colonialism and how they are seen today with changes in culture and history. This can view things like the erasure of culture, the dominance of one cultural group over another, and shifts in government styles. Hints of this can be seen in places like Curacao who has music festivals like Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival (CNSJF) (which is Dutch owned) that tends to overlook the effects of this but subject the country to it again.

Place Branding

Marketing specific images that tie into an identity or hold cultural significance for a particular region. This is done in order to create a specific reputation for the place to increase it's popularity in certain industries like tourism. Jamaica's tourism tagline is heartbeat of the world.

How has Brexit affected the Caribbean?

Non-sovereign UK Overseas territories may face the loss of preferential access to the EU market as they will no longer be a part of the EU Overseas Countries and Territories grouping; Cuba trades with all countries of the EU including the UK on a Most Favored Nation(MFN)(special privileges) basis; UKOTs are very trade and development reliant on EU; Montserrat lacks economic autonomy and is heavily dependent on budgetary support from Britain and the EU; UKOTs may lose their association with Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA) and opt for membership with the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), an important forum for Dutch and French territories.

Tourism

One of the most important industries for the Caribbean because it is a vacation spot that people will want to travel too. This can be both by plane and physical hotels, or rental units like Air BnB's or even cruise ships who will dock at islands ports. Due to Covid19 when people were not allowed to travel, Martinique's tourism industry dropped by 41%.

Free Trade

Policy that allows goods/services to be exchanged throughout the Caribbean without monetary restrictions like taxes and tariffs. CARICOM is an example of this because the purpose was to promote economic stability and free trade between islands.

How has tourism affected the Caribbean?

Provides economic opportunities for islands; Creates economic stability; Can negatively effect climate change and sea level rise with airplane and cruise ship use; Can overlook post colonialism and the culture and historical implication of colonization on islands

Food Sovereignty

The ability for a nation/territory to rely on it's own food and agricultural resources to thrive. This occurs without help or intervention from outside resources. This is becoming a problem with the Caribbean because their resources are running low and they are having to import things like rice from major global powers like China.

Sovereingty

The power to govern and make decisions over your own nation and/or territory. This means that you are free from external control or intervention. When Haiti became sovereign they were able to govern themselves as they please and controlled their own economics (until the debt to France).

Debt politics

The use of monetary obligations like loans for political advancements. This is something the Caribbean is used to because global powers can expect a return on their investments even if the money is not repaid. China has done this with Jamaica giving loans to them for infrastructure and in return China has a some say on the Caribbean market against other global powers like the U.S. and the UK and is geographically much closer the the U.S. than before.

Territory

This is a region or island that is still under the control of a differing country or government. They may be able to have their own local governments but they are still open to interference from their 'main-lands.' These islands like the USVI'S can have 'higher standards of living' compared to sovereign islands because they can rely on their motherland for support.

Nationalism

This is a strong sense of loyalty and pride with one's country. In the Caribbean this can be seen with territories have a strong sense of culture and pride and still recognizing their motherland. Puerto Rico is an example because while they are proud of their culture and individualism they can still recognize they are part of the U.S.

Climate Change

This is changes within the Earth's temperature and atmosphere that is usually due to human activities like using too much carbon dioxide. Within the Caribbean this can cause higher category hurricanes, coastal flooding because of the rising sea levels, and erosion of coral reefs. This can damage island both physically and economically. Puerto Rico has been the subject of higher category hurricanes with hurricane Maria and Grenada has faced coastal flooding and sea level rise.

Brexit

This is the term (British Exit) of the UK leaving the EU and being the only sovereign country to leave. This has made the UK one of the biggest exporters to the Caribbean and competition for the EU. Jamaica is one of the UK's top exporters of things like machinery and goods.

Heritage Tourism

This is tourism but with the goal of going to have a cultural or historical experience. Many people whose families have immigrated to the U.S. and have never been to their 'home countries' will do this; Or vice verse people from the Caribbean will travel to the 'mainlands' to gain cultural experience there. This can be seen with people from the English-speaking Caribbean like the USVI's or Jamaica going to the U.S. or Britian for college.

Dependency

This is when a region/territory/nation needs to rely on another entity for resources for political or economic stability. This is a reoccurring issue within the Caribbean because of colonialism islands have become dependent on other global powers or organization for resources. The EDC program produced into St. Croix to upstart economic growth because the island is so dependent on U.S. resources.

Succession

This means to break away from a being a united country or government to become independent and sovereign. Can happen both through mutual agreements or a revolution like how Haiti seceded from France. Currently, St. Croix has proposed seceding from the U.S. Virgin Islands and the United States to become it's own sovereign nation to work on it's economic development.