Regionalism In The Caribbean

REGIONALISM IN THE CARIBBEAN

COURSE ID - GOVT 6064

DR. OMAR HAWTHORNE

THEORIES & ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

ID # - 00064776

TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction 3

The Historical Context 4

The Political Dimensions of Regionalism 5

The Economics of Regionalism 7

Social Dimensions of Regionalism 8

Reference 10

INTRODUCTION

“West Indians first became aware of themselves as a people in the Haitian Revolution. Whatever its ultimate fate, the Cuban Revolution marks the ultimate stage of a Caribbean quest for national identity. In a scattered series of disparate islands the process consists of a series of un-coordinated periods of drift, punctuated by spurts, leaps

Coincidentally this is also the year Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom, its final colonial master. Shortly thereafter Trinidad and Tobago withdrew causing the total collapse of the Federation. However, the discussions to unite the island states continued in earnest, and as a result in 1965, a Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) was created between Trinidad and Guyana and a number of smaller island states.

In July 1973, a formal treaty was signed off between Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana establishing the regional Common Market – CARICOM. One year later, in 1974, the remaining members of CARIFTA joined CARICOM, bringing the number of signatories to the agreement to fifteen. Between the years of 1991-1999, five additional states joined with associate status bringing the number of Caribbean States interested in going forward with integration to

The Colonial rulers were constantly at war trying to keep their colonies and as such they embarked on a divide and conquer method of ruling.

The territories upon independence from the colonial powers therefore continued to practise the behaviour of their former masters and followed an insular and nationalistic course. As the effects of globalisation and European regionalism became an economic reality for the region they strived to overcome the insulation. However, as the political leadership struggles with regionalism and economics, the population of the Caribbean space are coming to realise that they have more in common than separates them.

There are a number of Caribbean cultural efforts which have gained prominence over the years along with the unifying effects of sports. The Caribbean native is passionate about cricket, a colonial left-over but now given a Caribbean flavour and flair. The West Indies Cricket team is by far the most unifying organization in the Caribbean as the native unite both in praising and vilifying it as