Index Next page
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]
Index
Next page
|