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Introduction

The Caribbean region is generally defined as a zone that includes 24 insular countries and 4 non insular countries which maintain close ties with the Caribbean islands (Guyana, Belize, Surinam and the French Guyana). The 28 countries represent a total population of 35 millions, spread on a total surface of 727 000 km2.

Caribbean populations share in a common geographical and climatic zone, a complex cultural context where differences are as important as similarities.

The relative cultural homogeneity is the product of several factors:

  • common climatic conditions,
  • what is left of the pre-Columbian inheritance1,
  • a European colonial history (French, English, Spanish and Dutch),
  • forced migrations from Africa,
  • natural migrations from other regions (in particular from India),
  • and the relatively fast intermixing of the races (although variable) of the different founders, from which emerged the "miscegenation" proper to this region.

However, there are big differences among the countries of the region:

  • with regard to areas: between Guyana (215 000 km2) and Anguilla (91 km2). The 23 islands cover 235 000 km2 (88% of this area are shared by the 4 biggest islands: Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico), while the non insular countries cover 492 000 km2 .
  • with regard to the size of populations: from Anguilla with 8 000 inhabitants to Cuba with 12 millions.
  • with regard to the political statute: 16 independent countries, a territory bound to Holland (Aruba, Curaçao, the Dutch part of Saint Martin 2, St Eustachus and Saba), 2 territories bound to the United States of America (American Virgin islands and Puerto Rico), 3 to France (Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guayana) and 5 to England (Cayman, Turks and Caicos islands, British Virgin islands, Montserrat and Anguilla).
  • with regard to the economic development: from Haiti with a US$320 GNP/pc to the Bahamas with a US$12 000 GNP/pc.

Caribbean countries are also divided by several factors:

  • the geographical scattering factor, inside the Basin of the Caribbean�s
  • the linguistic factor: 3 main blocks (Spanish, English and French), plus Dutch and Creole.
  • the geopolitical factor: crossing influence of the United States and European countries.
  • the economic factor: countries are in competition on the export markets of tropical products and tourism, with a lack of differentiation.

The world evolution where two opposite tendencies emerge (the gathering together of regions into common economic structures and, at the same time, the cultural minority pressure to be recognized) is especially critical in this region where the tourist flux increases at the same speed as the volume of emigration does.

For all countries of this region prospects of development are bound to a better economic, political and cultural integration.

1 Only Dominica and non-insular regions have preserved indigenous population [back to text]
2 The rest of St Martin belongs to Guadeloupe departement [back to text]

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