# data[].attributes.body
Historically, the Caribbean created its own identity through acts of other nations and cultures of different nations and communities combined. This Caribbean identity is maintained by Caribbean integration that affords with it development of the Caribbean culture. However, globalization and its effects may cause the culture derived from the Caribbean past to become no more as it integrates other cultures that are different in many ways. For citizens of the Caribbean, being a part of the global village will destroy the Caribbean identity that has held the Caribbean community apart from other nations.

# data[].attributes.body
“Globalization involves economic integration; the transfer of policies across borders; the transmission of knowledge; cultural stability; the reproduction, relations, and discourses of power; it is a global process, a concept, a revolution, and “an establishment of the global market free from sociopolitical control” (Al-Rodhan, 3). This process intensifies border interactions and spaces of social action well beyond nation states. Globalization signifies a greater interconnectedness of people in different nations in many areas such as politics, economy and culture.

# data[].attributes.body
“Regional integration in the Caribbean, and especially in the English-speaking Commonwealth Caribbean, is not a new idea. The proposal owed its origin, in the late 19th century, not to a movement for home rule and self-government, but to the endeavors on the part of the colonial authorities, and in particular the most imperialistic sectors of the ruling circles, to streamline the Empire in the most cost-effective manner and reposition it in the global struggle against Britain’s rivals. This probably explains the reservations of many Caribbean leaders and parties in the 1960s towards an idea which was originally British” (Revauger, 857-858).  Caribbean integration may take different forms, for example political, economic and cultural factors. Caribbean integration encompasses the co-operation of multi-lingual, multi-ethnic communities. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), through its efforts to create a common market, involving free movement of goods, services, capital and people across the region established under the treaty of Chaguaramus are seeking to further develop integration within the Caribbean through its Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME). There are also small island economies that make up the (OECS) Organization of Eastern Caribbean States that add to the total GDP of CARICOM.  The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) is also another set of Caribbean states that assist in the ideology of CARICOM. Conversely, the region was also influenced by the trend towards free-trade, or at least the lowering of trade barriers between neighboring countries. “In 1965, a Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) was created between Trinidad and Guyana, which share a number of ethnic similarities, and are relatively close to each other, but also Antigua and Barbuda” (Revauger, 860).

# data[].attributes.headline
What are the effects of Globalization on Caribbean Integration 

# data[].attributes.subject
What are the effects of Globalization on Caribbean Integration 

# data[].attributes.body
Commonwealth Caribbean nations have a lot in common; colonization, use of the English language, and the legal aspect as it pertains to the mirroring of the Westminster Model. However, historical and cultural traditions, which structured and formed the core of the identity of the Commonwealth Caribbean are now qualified and completed by other factors namely geographical, economic, political and technological. These factors may cause the erosion and destruction of the Caribbean’s identity.

# data[].attributes.body
Caribbean Identity
Identity defines who or what an individual is. Personal and unique conceptions or characteristics of the persons constitute what is traditionally called, ‘personal identity’. But identity also involves membership in social groups or categories. This aspect of identity has been called ‘social identity’ (Bonnes, 2016). Besides being brought up in the Caribbean from birth, the Caribbean individual is taught through certain factors that allow them to gain a Caribbean identity. Examples of these are education, religion, race, politics history, gender, sexual orientation, geography, linguistics, economic activity and class. However, Globalization, through its integration of the transfer of policies across borders and the transmission of knowledge from other nations has caused individuals to pull towards acquiring a different identity through its highlighted lifestyles in comparison to the Caribbean. The knowledge learnt from Caribbean culture through the mentioned factors may be eroded by globalization as individuals seek a different identity, thus causing a change in the social construct of the Caribbean nation they belong to by extension the Caribbean. The Caribbean cultural identity can be said to be a creole society, meaning not used in the context of what many Caribbean citizens believe it is used. The word creole carries without it a history of colonialism. In Spanish, the word ciollo meant a ‘a person of European descent born outside Europe.’ It seems strange that Creole, a language variety that developed from dialectal French, was thus misidentified with a foreign name (Mufwene, 2002). The word creole was transmigrated from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean giving certain Caribbean countries their different languages and forming a culture.

# data[].attributes.body
Pluralistic Society
Another aspect of the Caribbean that is shared in Caribbean culture that may be eroded due to Globalization is the Plural society that is shared. The Caribbean culture brings with it a level of diversity within the groups that is too great to be ignored. However, cultural diversity is distinctive for nationalist movements. “Cultural homogeneity may also be used to promote political unity. For these reasons, nationalists often employ an ideology of culture to legitimate their movement its methods and aims” (Smith, 2). “Cultural homogenization is defined as a state-led policy aimed at cultural standardization and the overlap between state and culture” (Conversi, 719).  The main goal was to frequently impose the culture of dominant elites upon the citizens, it begins with the top to the bottom process and the state nationalizes the masses. The societies within the Caribbean countries are all multi-racial. Their populations are descended from immigrants from the old world: Europeans, Africans, Chinese, Indians, Lebanese and many others. The development of the Caribbean history in these areas consists of competing European nations through exploitation of African labor, namely slaves. Also the importation of indentured laborers formed this pluralistic society. Small groups of Chinese, Syrians, Jews and Portuguese known as specialized occupational groups could be found in these territories as well. The Caribbean can be said to be the only area in the world to have such a diversification of cultures under one roof. A little into Caribbean history, “people born within the West Indies are called “Creoles”; but East Indians are usually excluded from this reference. Thus Creoles are really people of Negro, White, or mixed Negro-white ancestry who are natives of the Caribbean” (Smith, 13).

# data[].attributes.body
Globalization and Carnival
The outlook of carnival has also changed to the minds of many from its cultural heritage. Carnival music, dance, and culture now come to signify multi-culturalism in the time of Globalization. Africans began to take part in Carnival after attaining freedom from Emancipation in 1833. The season of lent was for the Christians one of fasting, praying and alms deeds. However, paganism was associated with the Protestants who wanted to abolish pre-lent season and the lent fast. “Trinidad Carnival began as the pre-Lenten festival of the French elite and French creole population, which permitted African and Afro-Creole masking and costuming in the fields of the plantation or on the streets of Port of Spain. After Emancipation, Africans celebrating their freedom in the festivity known as cannes brulees (canboulay) invaded the Carnival spaces both metaphorically and literally. As a result of this invasion, the white elites retreated from the event” (Riggio, 1998).  This festival was seen to many as a form of cultural coup, which was turned from a Euro-Catholic festival into something Afro Trinidadian. The historical evidence is remarkable to date. The concept of masking, playing royal as a form of costuming, masquerading through the streets, Mud mas, stick fighting and much more all seen as a way to show emancipation forming an integral part of the culture of the Caribbean. However, Globalization has caused this festival shared by the Caribbean to form a part of other nations and territories, such as North America and Britain who has adopted their own style of carnival modelled after Trinidad. Carnival has turned into an economic exploit. “For example, Notting Hill carnival attracts two million people over two days of activities and is considered to be the largest festival of popular culture in Europe” (Nurse, 661-662). The spread of Trinidad carnival is related to the spread of the Caribbean diaspora in the North Atlantic after World War 2. The overseas carnivals have also evolved to play a crucial part in the sociopolitical and cultural roles for the Caribbean diaspora. Thus taking away from the culture once celebrated. To the people who once celebrated it and brought it to fruition, it is not just about merriment, colorful pageantry, street theatre and revelry. Carnival is born from struggles of marginalized peoples to structure a cultural identity through the pains and much resistance, liberation and catharsis. It has played the part of a bond between diasporic community and those at home promoting pan-Caribbean identity. Globalization has taken its toll on a festival with such festive and cultural meaning.

# data[].attributes.headline
Caribbean integration on the Performing Arts

# data[].attributes.subject
Caribbean integration on the Performing Arts

# data[].attributes.body
The many small island states are former colonies and they are seen as plantation economies, where production is agriculture and mineral commodity dominated. Also there are avenues in the export of clothing and electronics. However these economic avenues are not one hundred percent certain and are very vulnerable. “Tourism to the Caribbean too has historically generated low levels of local value added and is subject to strong external control by transnational tour operators, hoteliers and airlines” (Nurse, 2007). However, through the arts sector and the cultural industry being recognized as a different means of expression and symbolization of national identity. The Caribbean has contributed to a global cultural economy significantly. The Caribbean region has been often noted for having a huge impact despite its small size. Caribbean music, literature, visual arts, the performing arts and the audio-visual sector are enjoyed by all Caribbean member states and serves as a symbol to their culture. Many Caribbean countries join together to create this blend of music that is exploited in the global arena. Jamaica, a primary source for the institution of Reggae and dancehall music that transcends throughout the globe. Reggae music brings with it simple Reggae, Roots Reggae and the Lovers Rock Jamaica being the holder of the legendary Bob Marley. The music industry in the Caribbean country of Barbados is driven by soca along with Trinidad and Tobago which produces a wide range of musical genre from the ancestral past, some of which are calypso a type of music that was banned as it was seen as a type of protest against the colonizers, soca which evolved from calypso a prime example being Lord Shorty, the steel pan also being the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, rapso and the lovely music of parang that is heard bringing in the Christmas season each year. “Caribbean festivals have been pivotal, especially carnivals and indigenous music festivals, to the development of the cultural industries and arts sector” (Nurse, 2007). “Caribbean music, arts and festivals are the proliferations of Trinidad-styled carnivals, which can be found throughout the Anglophone Caribbean and in over sixty cities in the North Atlantic where there are large diasporic populations” (Nurse,1). Globalization will take away from the cultural arts of the Caribbean if it is shared and leave the Caribbean to suffer as it will be seen as just another island.

# data[].attributes.body
Conclusion
Aspiring to be a part of the global village has its ups and its downs, however, if one is to look at the preservation of the Culture of the Caribbean, from where it came from and how it has developed since the times of colonialism forward, maintaining a Caribbean identity through its cultures, music, pluralistic society and carnival which are just some of the factors that bring this great nation together  should be preserved and not just placed within the Global arena for economic and political gain. Caribbean integration should be given all the opportunities for success so the Caribbean nation may be allowed to grow and have a proper chance at facing up to the other nations.