Ryan James ANTH 1120 Introduction Globalization is the process of a company's products and services reaching a global market. Information technology is an essential part of the global economy since it allows businesses to monitor and control their operations across borders. Consumers and manufacturers from all over the world can connect and transact their items through an online store. Globalization can be classified into three categories: political, social, and economical. Nevertheless, globalization is divided into four sectors being economic, social, political, and cultural globalization. Cultural globalization is the transmission of different ideas and values around the world to intensify and extend and intensify cultural relations. In addition, this process is marked as by the common consumption of cultures that have been diffused through the internet “they availability to communicate at vast genomic spaces that make time nearly irrelevant.” (James, Ryan), cultural globalization involves the formation of shared norms and knowledge with which people associate their individual and collective cultural identities. It brings increasing interconnectedness. In this paper, I will explore how globalization affected the Caribbean culture, moreover, this paper will illustrate what has this particular community had to lose and what has gained, and if global capitalism has been fair to them. Roots or Caribbean Culture Over many centuries, many different ethnic groups have come to live in the Caribbean, each one bringing its own culture. The first known inhabitants of Jamaica were the Tainos, they also occupied the islands of Cuba and Haiti. These people were also part of a group called the Amerindians who have thought to been come from Asia, however, the first ethnic group to live on the lands were people who were called Amerindians, since they were the first people to live in the Caribbean they were also referred to as indigenous people. Moreover, The Caribbean is a historically and culturally rich region. The indigenous peoples of the Americas were the first to settle in the area. The Arawak and the Carib were the people in question. The Arawak were peaceful people who lived in small communities and relied on fishing and farming for their livelihood. The Carib were a warlike race who raided the Arawak for slaves and lived in greater communities. The Caribbean was also colonized by the British and the French. In Jamaica, Barbados, and the Bahamas, the British founded colonies. In Haiti and Martinique, the French created colonies. Slaves from Africa were also brought to the Caribbean by the British and the French. During the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars, the Caribbean was a battleground. The region was battled for by the British and the French. During the American War of Independence, the British and Americans fought for control of the region. The Caribbean has a lengthy history of freedom struggles. Haiti became the first colony to win independence in 1804. In the 19th and 20th centuries, additional colonies followed suit. The Caribbean is currently an area with a diverse range of states. The Caribbean is a cultural melting pot. Caribbean people are of African, European, and indigenous ancestry. Caribbean civilizations are a blend of African, European, and indigenous influences. Caribbean music is a blend of African, European, and indigenous elements. Caribbean cuisine is a blend of African, European, and indigenous elements. The Caribbean is a culturally and historically rich region. The indigenous peoples of the Americas, Spaniards, British, French, and Africans have all lived in the region. The American Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars, and the American War of Independence all took place in this region. The Caribbean is currently an area with a diverse range of states. Caribbean people are of African, European, and indigenous ancestry. Caribbean civilizations are a blend of African, European, and indigenous influences. Caribbean music is a blend of African, European, and indigenous elements. Caribbean cuisine is a blend of African, European, and indigenous elements. How did Cultural Globalization Affect Caribbean Culture? The Caribbean has been profoundly affected by globalization. The region is becoming more and more intertwined with the global economy. People from all over the world visit the Caribbean as a tourism destination. The global financial crisis has had an impact on the region as well. With a population of around 40 million people, the Caribbean is a small region. The rest of the world is extremely important to the region. Sugar, coffee, and bananas are among the products exported from the region. Tourism and remittances from Caribbeans living abroad are other important sources of income for the region. The Caribbean has benefited and suffered as a result of globalization. The Caribbean cuisine plays a huge part if the Caribbean culture, this led their people to embrace foods from different cultures and make them their own. Historically dishes that were made originally in their homeland would now be infused with new ingredients found in the Caribbean. However, they have moved away from their home-cooked meals and eat more of the western society meals such as Multinational Corporations. However, globalization has taken a huge part not only in the cuisine but also in their festivals and music/dance. There have been several different types of styles that were originated on the islands of the Caribbean, some examples would be Reggae, dancehall, Calypso, and Soca. However, in that case, due to globalization, Caribbean people are moving further away from more of the traditional types of music and dance that are indigenous to the islands. They are now embracing more of the Western dance and music associated with “pop culture”. The influence of Western ideals can also be seen as pushing its way into the concepts behind some of the music videos. An example of that is, in the most recent music videos the “clubbing/party scenes” that are portrayed in Hip Hop and R&B music videos are now seen in the Soca and Dancehall music videos. Positive and Negative effects of Globalization ( Caribbean Culture) The Caribbean culture has been profoundly influenced by globalization. Globalization has resulted in the diffusion of Caribbean culture around the world. This has influenced Caribbean culture in both positive and harmful ways. The Caribbean has benefited and suffered as a result of globalization. On the plus side, globalization has aided the region's economic growth. Globalization, on the other hand, has resulted in the exploitation of the region's natural resources and the environment. On the positive side, globalization has assisted in the dissemination of Caribbean culture to young viewers. This has resulted in a broader understanding of Caribbean culture and increased its presence on the international scene. Globalization has also helped to open up new doors for Caribbean musicians and artists. Globalization, on the other hand, has resulted in the uniformity of Caribbean culture. As a result, some of the unique features of Caribbean culture have been lost. Globalization has also had a negative impact on the Caribbean's economic status, as the region has become more reliant on the global economy. The positive effects of globalization on the Caribbean have been the following: The Caribbean has become more integrated into the global economy. This has helped to boost the economy of the region. The region has become a tourist destination for people from all over the world. Tourism has helped to generate income and employment in the region. “Depictions of the region have typically presented Caribbean landscapes, people, and cultures to be exploited and enjoyed by western consumers”. (Strachan 2002; Sheller 2003) The region has benefited from the transfer of technology and knowledge from developed countries. The negative effects of globalization on the Caribbean have been the following: The exploitation of the region's natural resources by developed countries has led to environmental degradation. The region has been affected by the global financial crisis. The crisis has led to a decrease in tourism and a decrease in remittances from Caribbeans living abroad. Globalization has led to the rise of crime and violence in the region. How Has Capitalism Been Fair To Them Capitalism is unquestionably a major source of modern invention, prosperity, and success. Firms are driven to improve efficiency by competition and capital accumulation, allowing investors to profit from expansion and customers to save money on more things. To keep this silent revolution going, continued improvements in the investment climate, better economic and climatic resilience, and increased human capital development are essential. If properly implemented, these measures would aid economic growth and job creation. Jamaica is improving in a number of areas. A road plan for improving the business environment has been established by the National Competitiveness Council. Jamaica has one of the greatest credit reporting systems and is one of the best places to start a business, according to the World Bank's 2019 Doing Business report. In two steps and three days, an entrepreneur can start and run a business. Impact of Capitalism on the Caribbean However, there is an extreme disparity in the distribution and prevalence of global capitalism in the Caribbean. This results from the fact that most Caribbean populations adopted global capitalism differently. Historians refer to global capitalism in the Caribbean as the revival of second-wave slavery. The Caribbean was initially known for the massive production of agricultural products such as sugarcane, coffee, tobacco, cotton, and many others. However, the region faced significant and growing competition from the production of similar commodities in America and European countries (Feldman, 2011, 54). As a result, the Caribbean adopted capitalist production approaches characterized by technology and management. One of the most visible impacts of globalization in the Caribbean was grabbing land from small-scale farmers or landholders to enhance participation in the highly competitive international market. The central focus of global capitalism is achieving minimal production costs to facilitate the realization of maximum cost. The Caribbean population responded positively to this rule of thumb by replacing human laborers with production and transportation technology. Generally, the main focus of capitalism (maximum profits) created the main impact of capitalism in the Caribbean region as it transformed production with efficiency and low costs (Feldman, 2011, 51). Capitalism inspired shifts in the economic models of the Caribbean people and changed the shape of slavery and production by the adoption of capitalist and profit-oriented systems of production. Anthropologists believe that capitalism leads to a spontaneous transformation of the history of slavery. Historians also argue that capital is a new form of slavery (different from the typical plantation slavery) referred to as industrial capitalism. However, different anthropologists have different opinions on the contribution of physical coercion and competition due to technological innovations to the productivity of human labor. Feldman argues that there is a glorified perception of this Caribbean island, such as beautiful beaches, and an overall exotic tropical paradise (Feldman, 2011, 41). Conclusion The world's globalization has had a significant impact on Caribbean culture. According to anthropologists, globalization has ushered in a new period of cultural hybridity, in which the world's old cultures are combining to produce new, distinct civilizations. This process has had a significant impact on Caribbean culture, as traditional Caribbean civilizations have been mingling with international cultures. As a result, a new, distinct culture has emerged, blending traditional Caribbean culture with foreign civilizations. The world's globalization has had a significant impact on Caribbean culture. The Caribbean's traditional cultures have been combining with the world's civilizations to generate new, unique cultures. Nevertheless, in this essay I went into further dept on how globalzition had a huge impact on the Caribbean culture, and the other factors that had caused it. References Feldman, J. 2011. Producing and Consuming “Unspoilt” Tobago: Paradise Discourse and Cultural Tourism in the Caribbean. Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology 16, no. 1, 41- 66. James, Ryan 2020. Episode 18, The Anthropology of Tourism Thomas, Deborah A.. Modern Blackness : Nationalism, Globalization, and the Politics of Culture in Jamaica, Duke University Press, 2004. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/york/detail.action?docID=1168036.
