Caribbean region and integration

Reasons for Caribbean integration

We are learning to:

• examine reasons for the existence of the Caribbean as a region

• suggest ways of strengthening Caribbean integration.

Sometimes countries from an area join together to cooperate as a group. This is known as regional integration. Each territory in the Caribbean is very small, with limited resources and a tiny population in comparison to its more powerful neighbours in North and South America. There are several reasons that the territories of this region have agreed to cooperate as a unified region:

• geography of the region

• common history

• integration movements including sporting and economic agreements.

Geography of the region

Compared with their larger neighbours, the territories of the Caribbean need to join together in order to represent a larger collection of people. They share the same geographic location and many of the same geographical features:

• island geography – large areas of coastline as a result of being surrounded on all sides by the sea

• tropical rainforests – most of the territories have tropical climates with tropical rainforest vegetation and diverse species of plants and animals

• hazards such as storms, hurricanes and earthquakes. The many small islands each face the challenge of limited resources, as well as vulnerability to natural disasters. By working together as a region, the territories of the Caribbean are better able to manage the challenges of their geographical resources.

Exercise

1. Which of the following types of habitat are most commonly found in the Caribbean region?

a) desert b) mountains c) beach

2. In your own words define ‘regional integration’ and explain how it works in the Caribbean.

Activity

Write a reflective journal entry titled ‘I love living in the Caribbean’. Highlight at least three aspects of the Caribbean region that you love.

Common history and culture

The countries of the Caribbean share many similarities such as history, language and culture. The effects of globalisation have affected the islands of the Caribbean in similar ways, and many of the islands share similar social problems. Because of these similarities, the countries of the Caribbean benefit from joining together as a single region. For example, the most popular sport in the West Indies is cricket. The British originally brought the game to the West Indies under colonial rule. The earliest cricket matches took place in the early 1800s, among officers of the British military. Cricket became a symbol of the Caribbean people’s struggle to be free of colonisation. In the early days cricket clubs were white-only, and slaves were not allowed to take part. Black players were forced to found their own clubs. This changed as inter-island competitions became more frequently organised. The competitions brought together people of all backgrounds from each island as they shared the desire to see their home island win.

As Caribbean society became more democratic and integrated, the West Indian cricket team became a reflection of that integration. The West Indies produces many highly talented cricket players, which helps improve national pride.

Exercise

3. The Caribbean region is situated near the Tropic of Cancer. Suggest four ways that this affects the geography of the region.

4. Why do you think cricket is so popular in the Caribbean?

5. At first, cricket was a game for the colonial ‘masters’ and the slaves were not allowed to play. What changed this?

6. Explain what you understand by regional integration in sport.

Discussion

Discuss why the sizes of the Caribbean territories make it important for them to cooperate as a single region.