Norman Girvan Library - Institute of International Relations (STA)

The contributors to Caribbean Realities and Endogenous Sustainability discuss alternative theoretical perspectives, sustainable growth-inducing economic policies, and special challenges in this era of neoliberal globalization. These perspectives, policies and challenges have to be seriously considered if appropriate interventions towards changing the Caribbean status quo and eliminating social and political ills are to be pursued. The authors evaluate past efforts and policies, criticize failed perspectives, and offer alternative strategies, policies and realistic options to the region's current socioeconomic impasse and misery from a distinctly Caribbean viewpoint. The chapters are informed by such important factors as historical legacy, the role of institutions (including market and government), geopolitics and international relations, security, local culture and social psychology, which clearly stand in contrast to the starry-eyed analysis of the current orthodoxy. Overall, the essays not only expand the body of knowledge but, more importantly, provide a rich menu for alternative strategies and policies related to Caribbean international relations and social and governance ills in the twenty-first century.

Many of the nations of the Caribbean have become independent states and have maintained as a central, organizing, nationalist principle the importance in the beliefs of the ideals of sovereignty, democracy, and development. Yet in recent years, political instability, the relative size of these nations, and the increasing economic vulnerabilities of the region have generated much popular and policy discussions over the attainability of these goals. The geo-political significance of the region, its growing importance as a major transshipment gateway for illegal drugs coming from Latin America to the United States, issues of national security, vulnerability to corruption, and increases in the level of violence and social disorder have all raised serious questions not only about the notions of sovereignty, democracy, and development but also about the long-term viability of these nations. This volume is intended to make a strategic intervention into the discourse on these important topics, but the importance of its contribution resides in its challenge to conventional wisdom on these matters, and the multidisciplinary approach it employs.Recognized experts in the field identify these concerns in the context of globalization, economic crises, and their impact on the Caribbean.

Influenced by global capital and external forces, the small developing countries of the Caribbean share historical legacies of foreign domination and transplanted institutions. In Contradictory Existence, the relationship between capitalism, manifested in the contemporary dispensation as neoliberalism, and democracy is explored and the authors demonstrate how history, culture, geopolitics and the demands of international capital influence the tension between development and democracy. Cutting across the fields of sociology, anthropology, politics and international relations, the contributors to this volume challenge some of the assumptions of how democracy works in the context of capitalist development practised by most Caribbean countries since the 1990s; and how race, gender and class influence the exercise of democracy. At a more fundamental level, Contradictory Existence questions whether neoliberalism is the model best suited for the postcolonial nation building enterprise only 50 years young.

The foreign policy behavior of small states, which in today's world comprise some sixty countries, is not prominently represented in academia. Studies associated with these states' foreign policy tend to focus on their behavior in the international arena with a clear dominance of realist thoughts. Small states are often seen from a closed-box approach where the internal factors, leadership, and other domestic issues are given scant attention by scholars, leaving substantial and important gaps in the knowledge. This book which emerged from original and extensive research over five years, attempts to fill some of these gaps. The book is concerned with the foreign policy formulation and implementation of the small Caribbean state of Trinidad and Tobago, and without the claim of generalization.

Live music events are synonymous with fun but seldom associated with international trade. This book serves to transform this mindset, through describing the economic value of live music and analysing the factors affecting international trade in Caribbean live music services. Race and ethnicity, unachieved regionalism within the Caribbean, and perceived biases in international trade agreements are assessed in relation to their impact on this trade. Several topics presented in this book are based on empirical findings from a previous microeconomic study, dedicated entirely to international trade in live music. Moreover, this book is unique because it compares the Caribbean and South Korea to assess the effectiveness of strategies aimed at developing international trade in live music services. This comparison should inspire robust policy initiatives for advancing international trade in Caribbean live music, given that South Korea is presently a heavyweight in the export of its entertainment services, despite language barriers.

Latin America and the Caribbean, Sixth Edition presents a collection of geographical topics written by several contributors who are experts in their respective areas of study.

The idea that the Caribbean could be devolving downward in wealth, function and sovereignty has become a recurrent theme in both academic and popular literature. By focusing on some of the current issues facing Caribbean nation states, the editors and contributors to this volume hope to inform and contribute to the ongoing debate on the broad themes of Sovereignty and Development and the prospects for survival of Caribbean nation states in a globalised world. While some of the papers seek to describe and analyse the range and complexity of the challenge to national sovereignty and public policy autonomy, others focus on issues relating to small country size, gender and ethnic tensions, security, constitutional reform and regional integration. The result is a balanced perspective; the contributors do not gloss over the problem faced by the region. At the same time they do not present a hyper-pessimistic picture of Caribbean development prospects. What gives the collection a particular dynamism is the way in which the authors have challenged the terrain of political possibilities traditionally defined for small peripheral socities.

This book examines non-traditional forms of security and expands the notion of security to include non-state actors and non-human actors. With a wide-ranging look into some of the 'new' security threats facing state and non-state actors today, this book is designed to specifically offer new angles on tackling these threats in the Caribbean region. It explores issues relating to viruses, war and conflict, migration, geopolitics, climate change and terrorism through multi- and interdisciplinary perspectives on global (in-)securities. Each chapter clearly elucidates the connectedness of these non-traditional threats, drawing on a remarkable number of the most recent reports and scholarly works. Most importantly, there is a lack of Caribbean studies in the security themes that are studied.