Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Upper 6 science
MODULE ONE CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIETY
Society
LOCATION AND DEFINITION OF THE CARIBBEAN
REGION
Society is a collection of people occupying a defined geographical
area over a long period of time.
Definition of the Caribbean Region
This describes the area washed by the Caribbean Sea and is often
The sociological understanding of the term society stresses the
described as the Caribbean Basin. It would therefore include most
interaction amongst its members.
of the islands of the Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles as well as the
mainland territories in Central America (Costa Rica, Belize,
Culture
Panama, Honduras) and Northern South America such as
Columbia and Venezuela. The common link here is the Caribbean
Sea. Culture is widely regarded as the way of life for a people.
Political
Cultural Diversity
Page 1
Cultural Diversity is the existence of sub-cultures within a main IMPACT OF HISTORICAL PROCESSES
culture or different cultures in a larger area such as the Caribbean
and the US. Migratory Movements
Social Stratification The ancestors of the pre-Colombian Amerindians may have come
out of North Eastern Asia across the frozen Bering Straits to
This is the social arrangement of society based on criteria such as Alaska during the fourth Ice Age some fifteen to twenty thousand
race, wealth and education. years ago. The nomads wandered southwards through North,
Central and South America evolving distinct physical and cultural
characteristics.
Social Mobility
The Orinoco Basin and the Guianas in South America were the
original homeland of the Caribs and Arawaks who migrated
This is the movement, usually of individuals or groups, from one
northwards through the Lesser Antilles to the Greater Antilles. By
social position to another within the socially stratified system in
1492, the main Arawak groups which inhabited the West Indies
any society.
were the Lucayans in the Bahamas and Tainos in Cuba, Jamaica,
Haiti and Puerto Rico. The greatest Amerindian civilization
Hybridization
flourished on the mainland of Mesoamericas and South America.
This may occur as a result of the deliberate desire to keep continued from a long time as a feature of Caribbean people, that
traditions alive and help some groups to preserve their sense of is, to move from small islands of the Eastern Caribbean to larger
identity. It is also defined as the process where past cultural ones in a complex inter-island migration.
Cultural Renewal
Hispaniola was the first test ground for Spain’s Indian Policy.
This is where cultural practices that were once done are being
revived or the fashioning of new practices based on those of the Amerindians had to present Columbus with a certain amount of
past. gold each week which were measured in ingots (a calabash full of
gold dust)
Page 2
He made them dive for pearls. Amerindians drowned because they Repartimiento and Yanconaje
were not accustomed to diving so deep.
The rich Spanish (encomendero) gained jurisdiction over land and There was an encomendero who had to oversee the work usually a
they had Amerindians working for them. rich Spanish.
Nicholas De Ovando had to protect the Amerindians but he did not Yanaconaje was practiced in Peru and Bolivia.
do so.
African Slaves
Many Amerindians died of starvation.
The journey of slave ships from Africa to the West Indies (Middle
Father Antonio Montesinos on Advent Sunday in 1511 addressed Passage) was wrought with horror, waste of human life and was
Spanish telling them they were “hypocritical and warped.” characterized by high mortality rate.
The Law of Burgos (1512-1513) sought to alienate the tension Chattel- African slaves were treated as commodities.
between Spanish and Amerindians.
By the second half of the 16th Century, there was a virtual genocide
Indentured laborers were assigned contracts in which they were
of the Amerindians.
paid wages to work for a specified period of time.
Page 3
After the contracts expired they were given the option to return to Entrepreneurial activities- shop-keeping and saving society (sou-
their homelands or to receive a plot of land. Many chose to stay. sou)
Plate Tectonics
Encomienda
Slavery
At these margins two plates move towards each other and it is
They were intentionally idle on the plantation (Go Slow) called a destructive plate margin. At a convergent plate margin,
either a collision zone or a subduction zone may be formed. A
collision zone occurs where two continental plates collide forming
They destroyed valuable machinery
fold mountains. E.g. Eurasian and Indian plates collide to form the
Himalayan Mountains. A subduction zone occurs when an oceanic
Marronage – Maroons were the runaway slaves who established
plate collide with a continental plate and the denser oceanic plate is
communities in the hilly terrain of many areas of the Americas.
forced under.
Marronage was not always an option in island communities but
existed in large territories where the hilly terrain was ideal for
At a convergent plate margin volcanoes and earthquakes occur.
settlements. The most famous Maroons in the Caribbean are found
E.g. the eastern end of the Caribbean Plate along the line of the
in Suriname, in the Blue Mountains and Cockpit Country of
Lesser Antilles and the North American plate and the Caribbean
Jamaica and in Las Villas in Cuba. They were successful at
plate.
defending their liberty and in 1739 the British were forced to sign a
treaty of peace.
Divergent Plate Margin
At this plate margin, the plates move away from each other and is
called a constructive plate margin as new crust is formed. This
results in gentle volcanis and earthquake activity. Magma is forced
upwards and new crust is created. E.g. the Caribbean and North
Movement towards Independence
American plates move away from each other to form the Cayman
Island Ridge.
Foster Commission (1935) in Trinidad and Moyne Commission
(1938) looked at the economic situation in each country.
Transform Plate Margin
Page 4
does not occur here, instead only seismic activity is experienced. Floods
E.g. the Cayman Island Trench.
Fires
Volcanoes
Earthquakes are sudden earth movements or vibrations in the 85% buildings destroyed
earth’s crust. They are caused by the development of faults in the
crust which result from collision of plates or from the movement of
Ground fissures over 15cm apart
molten rocks below or within the crust or the sudden release of
stress that has slowly built up along the fault plane at a transform
Jamaica (1993)
plate margin. The focus is the point at which the earthquake
originated. The epicenter is the point on the surface of the earth
5.4 on the Richter scale
directly above the focus.
2 deaths
Risks involved with Earthquakes
Triggered landslides
Tremors
Page 5
Wall collapsed Waves may reach 8m high
A hurricane is a low pressure system formed in warm waters. All Storm surge
hurricanes develop over the sea. They do not develop close to the
equator as they require a surface temperature of 27 degrees. Near eye of major hurricane sea levels are several metres above
normal
Before a hurricane
Flooding
As hurricane approaches, cloud cover builds up and winds
intensify Flooding by slowly rising waters (Caroni, Barrackpore)
Wind strongest near the eye of the storm Triggered where steep hills are sodden with rain
Wind drops suddenly after eye passes and starts again Hurricane Ivan in Grenada ( September 2004)
40% increase in wind speed doubles the destructive power Recently built national stadium destroyed
Page 6
90% nutmeg trees destroyed 1. Terracing
Soil is the uppermost layer of loose material on top of the orck 8. Intercropping
which makes up the surface of the earth. It consists of tiny oarticles
derived from the broken down fragment of rock together with 9. Reforestation
humus.
Coral Reefs
Soil erosion
1. The main frame of the reef is built up by coral polyps whish are
1. Soil compaction by grazing animals and machinery small soft bodied creatures which use calcium carbonate dissolved
in water to build up a hard casing of limestone to protect
2. Deforestation themselves.
3. Over grazing 2. These tiny polyps live in colonies or large groups.
4. Over use of artificial fertilizer 3. Layer after layer of limestone is added to the colony as new polyps
build on top of the structure.
5. Monoculture
4. Other organisms also live on the reef and these creatures produce
6. Slash and burn cultivation hard skeletons which help to build up the structure of the reef
around the framework of the coral.
7. On the seaward side, the reef slopes down more steeply. At the
Soil may be conserved by:
base of this slope there will also be an accumulation of sand and
rubble.
Page 7
Conditions in which coral reefs grow 1. They protect the coastline from wave erosion and they dissipate
wave energy.
3. Sunlight must be able to penetrate where the coral is growing. 4. Source of sand for beach when reefs break down.
Corals grow only in fairly shallow water. The exact depth depends
on the clarity of the water. Droughts
4. Coral grow where the water has the right amount of salt. Few reefs Droughts are caused by a lack of rain over a long period of time. If
are near the mouth of rivers. rain does occur, it usually isn’t enough for the ground to absorb
therefore it is evaporated again.
5. Corals need to grow in clean water. Muddy water damages coral
because it shuts out sunlight and because silt particles choke the
coral polyps. Organic growth of other organisms are promoted.
Organic pollution damage coral. Corals may be starved from lack
IMPACT OF SCIETAL INSTITUTIONS ON CARIBBEAN
of oxygen or smothered in algae. When the growth of the coral is
PEOPLE
held back, it often becomes diseased and may die.
Family
Types of Coral Reefs
Education
2. Barrier Reef- A barrier reef is similar to a fringing reef except that
it is situated several kilometers off the coast and is separated from
The primary function of the education system is to promote
it by a deep, water lagoon. The coral of a barrier reef is often
socialization of young people. Schools transmit a society’s values,
joined to the coast although the lagoon may be too deep for coral
attitudes, beliefs, norms, specific skills and system of knowledge
to grow on its bed. In some cases, fringing reefs develop on the
to young people. It also recruits young people for specific
inner side of lagoons which lie between a barrier reef and the coast
occupational and social roles in society. They also help to keep
of the island.
people out of the labor market and it promotes technological
change in society by providing the basis of knowledge and skills
3. Atolls- Atolls tend to form horseshoe shapes or rings. The reef
that enable technological innovation to occur.
surrounds a deep lagoon. Atolls occur off the coast of Belize.
Religion
Importance of coral reefs to the Caribbean
Page 8
Religious institutions meet any basic human needs that are not met Foods-fresh, packaged and agricultural produce
by the other institutions. They deal with the ultimate human Fish
concerns of life and death. It provides a set of beliefs that explains
Clothes
and interprets occurrences in the social and physical environment
Music, Carnival costumes, songs, artists, performers
that cannot be explained by other means. They also serve as a basic
human need for providing people with ethical principles, morality Migrants, students, tourists
and a set of guidelines for appropriate behavior. They also provide The Westminster System
a set of beliefs for interpreting the causes and consequences of a
person’s past, present and future conducts. Religious institutions The government is chosen by the democratically elected Lower
provide people with an identity as members of a specific group and House.
a sense of connectedness with the past and future/ it provides
emotional support and consolation in the face of uncertainty, The head of government is the Prime Minister who leads the
anxiety, defeat, alienation and disappointment. Cabinet which is responsible for the Lower House.
The Justice System An opposition exists, led by the leader of the party with the second
largest number of votes in the Lower House.
The justice system has three main features:
The rule of law prevails with an independent judiciary subject to
the constitution.
CARIBBEAN GLOBAL INTERACTIONS
Appliances All met with resistance in the beginning but then tourism
became enticing
Films, videos, cable T.V.
Music, entertainment
Music
Books, magazines, software
Clothes
Soca, reggae, calypso
Consultants, experts, advisors
Exports from Caribbean
Chutney, Tassa
Oil
Steelpan (Pan European Association responsible for creating a
Natural gas network to promote the development of pan in Europe.)
Page 9
Impact of Rastafarianism properly developed we also protect what they reflect of our actual
heritage?
-What are some of the dangers we face when we begin to adapt our
arts and culture to make them attractive to persons outside of the
Caribbean?
Page 10
MODULE TWO GNP/ capita
Industrialization
CONCEPTS AND INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT
Employment levels
This is a concept of advancing people’s quality of life, assessing
such advance in terms of economic criteria as well as human
Economic structures such as primary, secondary and tertiary
dynamics, particularly the conservation and protection of the
sectors
environment.
Corporations.
Economic Development Growth is the all round expansion of the economy. It can be
measured in GNP which reflects the general increases in total
output. Examples of growth include advances in technology,
This is the development of the production of goods and services in
quality of life, standard of living education, health care etc.
a country.
Indicators of Development
Page 11
Development is the qualitative concept concerned with the pattern High unemployment
of economic change. In order to have development, there must be
growth. High crime rates
Rate of increase in the working population Economic dualism- division of the economy into two distinct and
radically different sectors
Technological development
Unemployment
Balance of payments
Size of population
Role of government and government expenditure
Migration
Balance of Payment
Industrialization
Balance of Payment = (Money made+ Money Brought In) -
(Money Sent Out) The role of education
Poor economic performance 1. Most Caribbean countries have the legacy of slavery
and this has stratified the society under factors of
High rates of population growth economic status, race, color, education, wealth and
marriage. Because of this there is a sense of inferiority
Low standard of living and superiority among the classes which in turn hinder
development.
Relatively short life expectancy 2. Unfair discrimination other than by merit hinders
development. A person should not be discriminated
Page 12
against because of race, color, religion, sex, status or The IMF was established in December 1945 in the aftermath of
creed. Where such discrimination exists, low levels of World War II as there was the need to have an agency to stabilize
production will occur. the international monetary system.
Globalisation Both the IMF and the World Bank were designed to help countries
recover form the effects of World War II.
Six global factors are: GATT was founded in 1947 with headquarters in Geneva,
Switzerland
Impact of Golabilsation
Also called Trans-National Corporations and these are businesses
that carry out at least 25% of production internationally.
Globalization impacts:
Scotiabank
Organization
Texaco
IMF (International Monetary Fund)
Shell
Page 13
Esso Important Objectives
Alcan
Courts
Disadvantages
Reasons for Failure
1. MNCs may use their power in the markets to drive Masses were not educated about the Federation
domestic producers out of business
2. They buy few or none of their raw materials, instead Communication among islands (postal, shipping) were inefficient
they are imported
3. Technologies and skill brought by MNCs may be Petty rivalry among member states
severely guarded.
Distrust by smaller states for the larger bodies.
Decided that Trinidad would be the site for the West Indian CARICOM
Parliament which upset Jamaican delegates who said Port of Spain
was too far away.
Caribbean Community and Common Market came into effect in
August 1st 1973.
Princess Margaret declared the Federal Parliament open in 1958.
OECS(Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) Provide a unique opportunity for pursuing a range of objectives
that relate to a shared patrimony of the Caribbean sea and seaboard
July 4th 1981 making provisions for their use on a sustainable basis
The states close proximity to each other would facilitate Address ecological and environmental questions
Objectives
Provide mechanisms for prevention and control of toxic waste
levels.
Gather information for the control of drug trafficking activities
Promotion of unity and solidarity among member states and within the area
Main objectives
To conduct joint negotiations on external economic relations Improved services provided by enterprises and individuals
including transportation and communications
ACS Initiative
Greater opportunity for travel
Page 15
Expanded scope for artistes to showcase their goods and services agreement where the government of Barbados was appointed as
Trustee
In 1981 the first examinations were held in 5 subjects Has seen the introduction of regional news that emanates from a
source that has regional overage as its primary mandate without
In 1998 the council had 7 examinations at the Advanced Level having to compete with the international sources for coverage
Created a regional institution in 1948 Responsible for the administration and organization of cricket in
the region
Eleven University Centers situated in non-campus countries
throughout the region as well as a Center for Hotel Tourism and
Management in the Bahamas CONTRIBUTIONS OF SPORT
UWI plays a critical role in the education advancement of the Served as an integrating force in the Caribbean: different races and
First suggested at an official level in July 1966 at the Canada West Served as a boost of morale and identity of West Indian people
Formal agreement establishing the CBD was signed in Kingston there are other areas that need to be capitalized on. E.g. we should
th
Jamaica on 18 October 1969 at a Conference of Plenipotentiaries perform better at swimming and water sports given the fact that we
Agreement was to come into force on the 26th January 1970 and Performance in athletics far outstrips the level of support and
Page 16
We need programmes and infrastructure from the school and 2. Media rights and privileges
community levels up to the national level
3. Professional training: CARIMAC- Caribbean Institute
of Mass Communication
Making a living from sport
4. Dominance of foreign media e.g. 76% of Jamaica and
95% of Montserrat’s programming is imported.
Aside from cricket few other sporting disciplines afford Caribbean
people to make a living
INTELLECTUAL TRADITIONS
Coaches, sport psychologists, physical education instructors,
physical therapists
Pan-Africanism
1. To enhance communication among members of a threw into the political and ideological ring the challenge of social
society and of the global village. They have their major analysis perceived principally as class struggle. Color became a
functions: to inform, to entertain, to make us visible problematic element. The issue of class and race remained
promote economic development best tool in fighting against French political and intellectual
hegemony and domination.
Factors affecting the media performance The movement was influenced by the Harlem Renaissance
particularly the work of African American writers Langston
Hughes and Richard Wright whose work addressed themes of
1. The availability of communication technologies:
blackness and racism. Further inspiration came from the black
satellite, computing, optic, laser and digitalizing
culture and history of Haiti. Key figures include Paulette Nardal,
technology
Page 17
Jane Nardal, Dr. Leo Sajoo, Martiniquan poet Aime Cesaire, Leon Impact
Damas, Langston Hughes and Richard Wright.
Louis’ reason for this was that industrialization was expensive and
Marxism
export promotions required breaking into foreign markets and
building new distribution outlets. This could only be done if
islands concentrated on inviting manufacturers who are well Marxist Theory arose in a capitalist world and as an analysis of
established in foreign markets. Once an increase in foreign direct that world as well as antidote prescription for diagnosed ills. Marx
investment is attracted, the private sector’s income will increase. the social philosopher and Lenin the field officer gave the world
Throughout the world, males are in charge and have been in charge
Caribbean perspective on British Capitalism
for centuries. Women have fared badly under males. During
slavery, women were abused sexually and their resistance was
Capitalism was introduced into the Caribbean with the first trans-
largely individual such as infanticide, abortion, arson or even
shipment of Black African Slaves across the Atlantic. According to
murder.
Walter Rodney, this type of capitalism was one-sided. It was non-
negotiable for two fundamental reasons. The first is that Africans
The struggle of women to be treated justly is a necessity for the
had little or no say in the system and the second is that the system
proper morality of any society. Women are not asking for special
was forced upon the Africans.
rights and privileges. Their priority is for treatment deserving as
human entitlement.
Capitalism in its simplest terms means free market enterprise. This
system is a means of organizing the economy whereby the
exchange of goods and services is done according to the forces of
the market, that is, demand and supply.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
2. Profit making
Equality refers to efforts to treat everyone in a similar way
Eric Williams was one of the first persons to link slavery and
Capitalism. He argued that slavery was purely economic and it
Equity attempts to ascertain whether the treatment is fair or just.
embodied the Capitalist ideal of the British.
worked and worked well. The brutality was not only mental but between Spain and Portugal laid the foundation for colonial
psychological. The black West Indian was constantly reminded of exploration and expansion in the Caribbean region by other
his/her blackness and this blackness was closely linked to imperial powers
backwardness.
Page 19
The Treaty of Ryswick 1697 established the principle of no peace All the independent territories except Trinidad and Tobago have
beyond the line which reinforced that whatever applied in Europe followed the format of the European Convention for the Protection
between the European powers did not apply to the Caribbean of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom for the inclusion in
their constitution.
The area beyond the line to which the treaty referred was the west
of the prime meridian and south of the Tropic of Cancer. As a The Council of Europe drew up this Convention in 1950
result the Caribbean was established as a zone of war in which
even the basic assumption of a civil society did not apply. Trinidad and Tobago copied the formula of the Canadian Bill of
Rights 1960 for the inclusion in its constitution in 1962 and
Equality was not a principle that applied in the colonial state. This retained this model when it became a republic in 1976
manifested itself in the introduction of exploitative labor systems
and led to the recognition of slaves as both people and property The Bill of Rights diminished the effect of the Westminster
doctrine of the Supremacy of Parliament. It also places constraints
After the emancipation of slave in 1834 and the failure of the on executive action. The doctrine of the supremacy of the
apprenticeship in 1838 the concept of people as property was constitution applies to all of the constitutions of the
removed. However the indentureship systems limited the freedom Commonwealth Caribbean.
of movement as indentured workers needed to have passes to leave
their estate. The Entrenchment of the Constitutions
Indentureship ended in 1917 The constitutions of the Commonwealth Caribbean are all
protected from easy amendment by the entrenchment of their
The Universal Adult Franchise was first implemented in Jamaica positions.
in 1944 and in Trinidad and Tobago in 1946 and later in the other
territories. It gave all persons older than 21 years the right to vote The Parliaments of the region cannot amend all of the sections of
regardless of ownership or rental of property or levels of income. their constitutions by a simple majority because this is one of the
various checks and balances that have been placed in the
Movements toward real social justice came with the introduction constitution to protect it from political abuse or amendment.
of the Bill of Rights in constitutions of the newly independent
countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean starting with Jamaica There are three main types of entrenchment in the constitutions of
and Trinidad and Tobago in 1962. the Commonwealth Caribbean:
The Bill of Rights were chapters in their constitutions that Special majorities in the Parliament- all of the constitutions of
recognized, declared and protected the fundamental human rights the Commonwealth Caribbean have this procedure which specifies
and freedom of the individual in all societies that certain sections of the constitution require special majorities in
the Parliament.
Fundamental Human Rights and Freedom
All of the independent territories of the Commonwealth Caribbean Time delay procedures between readings of a Bill of
have Bill of Rights which are enshrined and protected in their Amendment- some of the constitutions of the commonwealth
constitutions. Caribbean specify that there should be a period of 90 days between
Page 20
the first and second readings of a bill that seeks to amend the 10. Cultural expressions- ways in which one’s culture is
constitution before the head of state gives his/her assent to the bill. demonstrated
The effect of such a delay is that the Parliament cannot consider
11. Cultural hybridization- the admixture cultural traits
any bill to amend the constitution hurriedly and more time is given
and exchange of values from other cultures
for a deeper consideration of the proposed amendment by the
12. Cultural norms- the standards of behavior that are
wider society.
accepted and shared by members of a society
1. Atlantic Slave Trade- the commercial buying of 19. Social stratification- the social arrangement of society
Africans from West Africa crossing the Atlantic Ocean, based on criteria such as race, wealth and education
to be sold to plantation owners in the western 20. Sugar revolution- the period where sugarcane
hemisphere. production and processing was the main economic
2. Chattel slavery- form of slavery where people are activity in the western hemisphere.
owned as property and can be bought or sold 21. Common market- a form of economic integration
3. Communism- a theory of a society where all property where restrictions on the free movement of
should be owned by the community or state and labor commodities, capital and labor among member states
organized for the common good. are abolished and a common external tariff is
traits or traits of foreign cultures 22. Cultural imperialism- one country’s imposition on
5. Cultural assimilation- integration of aspects of or another directly or indirectly, of it’s value system
traits of foreign cultures into local culture 23. Development- the sustained high level of economic
6. Cultural beliefs- ways of thinking common to a group and social well being or standard of living.
people from a specified geographical area Development was traditionally defined as the ability of
a country to advance economically, as measured by
7. Cultural diversity- the existence of sub-cultures within
increments in its GNP per capita. Today the concept has
a main or different culture
been broadened to recognize the Human Development
8. Cultural domination- where a culture of one country
Index that includes assessments such as life expectancy,
is pervasively influencing a local culture literacy and educational attainment-quality of life
9. Cultural erasure- where traits of a culture are no indicators.
longer practiced over time
Page 21
24. Economic growth- the increase in the production of
goods and services in a country over one year
Page 22
ASSIGNMENT Definition of research
1. Name of country Research is an activity that entails formal, systematic processes for
carrying out a scientific method for analysis.
9. Types of industry and has already been written is not considered research
since it adds nothing to what is known.
12. Festivals and celebrations 7. Is carefully recorded and reported. Each important term
is defined, limiting factors are acknowledged,
Purposes of research
Applied Research- The goal of this type of research is to improve
products and processes. Theory is tested in actual situations.
Types of research
This type of research focuses on variable relationships and The people you speak to, observe, send questionnaires to, should
describes what happens when the variables are carefully controlled know what you are doing and that you are involved in a research
or manipulated. Deliberate manipulation is always a part of the project. You should not put undue pressure on people or who
experimental method. might be afraid to say that they do not wish to participate in the
research.
Qualitative Studies
Invasion of privacy
These are studies that use a numerical method of describing
observations of materials or characteristics. You should seek permission of the person being interviewed to
allow you to use a tape recorder for example.
Quantitative Studies
Confidentiality
These are studies in which the description of observations is not
ordinarily expressed in quantitative terms. Numerical measure may You cannot tell other people what you learned or observed about a
be used but other means of description are emphasized. person, venue or situation if the persons are in a position to
recognize the venue, person or situation. You must attempt to
Sampling Procedures disguise your subjects’ identity.
1. Simple Random Sample- where subjects are selected Participants in the research project have a right to know what you
by lottery or by use of random numbers. will be doing with the information you collect as well as the reason
Page 24