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Regional Integration vs The Global Game 

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Regional Integration vs The Global Game 

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Is it really an option or do we need them to go hand-in-hand for the sake of the Region?

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In the process of defining the Caribbean, one must realise that it can be done in a number of ways, namely: geographically, historically and politically.

Geographically, the nations and territories touched by the Caribbean Sea are considered part of the region. This accounts for most of the Greater and Lesser Antilles and portions of South America.

Historically, the territories of this region have a shared history of neo-indian settlements which were then colonized by the Europeans. Most of these islands were converted into plantation states, for the purpose of bolstering the European economy; this phase of history brought indentureship and chattel slavery. As a result of this, the demographic of the region shifted rapidly during the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, with most of the indigenous people being ravished by disease and European might and the aforementioned systems of labour on the plantations saw the influx of lower class white labourers, Indian indentured workers and African slaves. This mass migration in the name of the plantation estates is the foundation of the racial construction of the Caribbean today. Another important historical factor that has shaped the region is the control of territories within the region by multiple European nations, such as Netherlands, Spain, France and the United Kingdom. This has shaped our language, our dialects, our culture and our economic and administrative systems.

Politically, the region comprises of independent states, associated states and colonies that are still dependent on a motherland.

In these three categories, with all of these factors, we have a unique region.

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Unemployment in the Caribbean stands at over 10% within all islands except Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba and Cayman Islands, ECLAC, 2019. This is compared to a 6.5% unemployment rate in the European Union, an economic, political and regional organization similar to CARICOM, eurostat, 2019. In terms of GDP, the Caribbean lags far behind the EU average of USD $35,566 per capita as the highest GDP in the region hails from Bahamas' USD $21,280 per capita, caribjournal, ND. The Caribbean's human development index stands at at an average of 0.7, with Barbados the highest scorer in 2017 globally placing 58th, UN, 2019. Regions such as South America, Europe, South-East Asia and Oceania all boast higher regional averages with nations very much inside the top fifty (50). These statistics firmly places this Region in the lower middle-class of the Global community. This also highlights the lack of development within CARICOM and how much work is needed for these nations to swim in the big waters of the Global village.

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What is Regional Integration and What has it done for us so far?

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What is Regional Integration and What has it done for us so far?

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In referring to current Caribbean Integration structures, we highlight the Caribbean Community or CARICOM. This is a framework meant to improve and promote Caribbean cooperation by utilizing integration between and unity of the member organizations. It is structure built to create an equal share of the benefits of regional integration, labour-wise, economically, socially and in foreign policy. It was founded on August 1st, 1973 by four independent states of Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana, ratified by the treaty of Chaguaramas. Since then, CARICOM has brought a number of initiatives to the region. One such initiative is the Caribbean Court of Justice or CCJ. This has given the region an ability to establish its own, independent jurisprudence. Many members of CARICOM subscribe to the CCJ but only four (4) nations currently utilize full (appellate) jurisdiction of this Court, one which is by the people of the region for the people of this Region. Another program brought forth by CARICOM is the Caribbean Single Market and Economy or CSME. According to caricom.org, 2019, the intent of the CSME is to achieve full use of labour, full exploitation of capital resources, competitive production, a diversified array of products being created by the region and living work and sustained economic development. By the words of their own mouths via CARICOM ambassador, Irwin LaRocque, there is work to be done still in the development of the region as 'constant communication with the people of the Caribbean is needed' to bolster their efforts and progress forward.  This sentiment is replicated within CARICOM's objectives:

(a) improved standards of living and work;

(b) full employment of labour and other factors of production;

(c) accelerated, co-ordinated and sustained economic development and convergence;

(d) expansion of trade and economic relations with third States;

(e) enhanced levels of international competitiveness;

(f) organisation for increased production and productivity;

(g) the achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage and effectiveness of Member States in dealing with third States, groups of States and entities of any description;

(h) enhanced co-ordination of Member States' foreign and [foreign] economic policies; and

(i) enhanced functional co-operation, including -        (i) more efficient operation of common services and activities for the benefit of its peoples;

(ii) accelerated promotion of greater understanding among its peoples and the advancement of their social, cultural and technological development;

(iii) intensified activities in areas such as health, education, transportation, telecommunications.

This shows that they are very much serious about their vision of complete regional integration. More importantly, we see the region benefit significantly from CARICOM's mandates and their push for regional integration. CSME's free movement of goods and services with a common external tariff, a common trade policy, low barriers of entry into regional markets, free movement of capital and labour have proven to be glorious assets to member nations, particularly the smaller economies. The Caribbean Court of Justice offers a brilliant solution to the issues faced by the region with the Privy Council with a Court that stands independent of politics within the Region yet manages to understand the Caribbean fully.

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Integration as preparation for Globalization? 

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Integration as preparation for Globalization? 

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What has been focused on all this time is the Economic impacts of Regional Integration but as we tread closer to the crescendo, we must look at the cultural significance of regional integration in the face of an impending Global organization.

AT THIS POINT, THE LAST THREE PANELS AND MOST OF THIS ONE JUST DELETED. THE REST OF THIS ENTRY IS ME RUSHING IT DOWN IN CONDENSED FORM BEFORE THE DEADLINE.

- Wole Akande, 2002 on Cultural Globalization reports:
1) Culture can disappear forever (like portions of indigenous cultures of the Caribbean being decimated upon European arrival and plantation creations)

2) When one nation or region's culture is disoriented, they can 'attempt wholesale adoption of anything and everything foreign.' (We see this somewhat in our adoption of dialect influenced by European languages and our adoption of European governmental and administrative systems).

This isn't always a depressing case, as we see in Trinidad slaves mimicking European culture (dress and dance) which led to Carnival.

The questions need to be asked, are we prepared to forsake portions of our own culture in the process of adopting the global community? Are we ready to adopt new cultures and still value our own? As touched on in Credit Assignment #2, the people of this region are ashamed of their skin and culture to a lesser extent than one hundred years ago but these sentiments still remain, is this a sign that we can maintain our cultural sovereignty or will our traditions just fade away?

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- We need regional integration for the sake of our economies, our culture and our people

- The world is moving towards a globalized way of thinking and we must work to suit to be able to remain competitive economically and acceptable to global standards

- However, before we dive into the sea of globalization, we need to build our boat, together, then set sail with the big boys of America, Europe and the East.