CARIBBEAN NORTH/SOUTH INTERFACE ❓
INTRODUCTION ⭐ what is an interface? What are the characteristics of an interface ?
CHALLENGES TO THE CARIBBEAN BEING A INTERFACE 🚫
WHAT MAKES THE CARIBBEAN BASIN AN INTERFACE 🏁
TRADE (MATERIAL FLOWS) : 😃
WHAT IS AN INTERFACE?
✅ An interface is "a surface forming a common boundary between, adjacent regions, bodies, substances, or phases". Or an area where two systems, subjects and organizations meet. The areas in question are geographically distinct.
AMERICAN BACKYARD: 🏴
INTEGRATION:❤
HUMAN FLOWS ♻
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INTERFACE: ✒
✅ The key to an interface is interaction therefore we will be looking at the different ways the North and South interact on Caribbean basin as well as with the rest of the world.
✅ An interface is an area of economic and cultural exchange
✅ Depends on how open the area is or how accessible which will provide easy trade
✅ It must be defined therefore an understanding of the borders would be constructive.
✅ How open it is, how easy circulation is
✅Being an interface could contribute to development in the region
✅An interface deals with a certain amount of flows both human and material
✅Is a geographic tool to help understand the relations between connected areas.
Crime and under development
Illegal trade is enhancing the lack of human development in the area.
Low HDI a lot of crime
Economic and social transition : high level of violence, organized international crime: new forms of crime: Drug dealing, regular crime theft and violence. The drug dealing has helped crime to spread and is believed to be the source of social underdevelopment. Trade is actually an actor that is enforcing crime in a way. Drug traffic is accompanied by both trade and use of firearms to protect drug cargo. --> Enhanced the level of gun violence and murders over 70% in Jamaica in 2006. Therefore we can see that crime could potentially spread due to influences of the interface on the north and south because of their economic and cultural exchanges. Drug trafficking is an example of trade even though illegal.
Other forms of crime such as gang violence and prostitution has threatened prosperity in the regions and prevents peace and stability—> could be damaging for international trade and possibly loose its position as an interface.
High homicide rate in the Caribbean —> Most violent area compared to central and south America. political parties do not agree on policies some are more modern and others more traditional and conservative.
The issues have a different impact
threatens unity as well, some regions are more affected than others yet major hubs are found all over the region and they have an economic organization very similar to the European Union: dealing with identity and diversity ? How is it linked to it being a North South interface (causes pro or con stability therefore capacity to act as an interface). (source 4)
CARICOM —> economic organisation of the Caribbean community « community for all ». Shows integration, they are mostly joined on economic terms. In fact most flags are part of the organization's logo.
The member states of this organization are —> the different islands : Trinidad,Tobago, Grenada
Jamaica, Haiti, Guyana, Suriname, The Bahamas and Belize —> they have different cultures despite the fact that they are concentrated in the Caribbean basin
—> diversity yet unity when it comes to economic gain.
This organization = for the sake of economic gain and also to create a community —> very much like the EU : evidence of Globalisation: imitating western policies and the Caribbean opening up further to the world
(source 3)
Containers used for shipping meaning economic purposes —> we notice they are a few main hubs concentrated in this small area : hubs like : Bahamas, Miami Trinidad and Tobago, New Orleans and Panama Canal they are the principal hubs in the Caribbean—> a lot contained in such a concentrated area the sizes vary depending on the island but we can see that the port occupies a great deal of the area —> meaning : very active and dynamic flow = fully involved in trade. The hubs are also well known areas/destinations meaning they are also form some renown touristic destinations : more human flows (especially temporary migration)
A few main hubs in the Caribbean, with different flows —> Major shipping route East, West, South and North.
Overall this document shows us that the Caribbean is a very dynamic area that trades a lot mostly with North America (proximity) but also trades with Middle East, Far East and Europe —> major shipping routes are all around the world even though most of them are concentrated in the area they are shipping routes going to the far East, South America and Australia too. Thus providing with further evidence that it is a very dynamic area and is not limited to only a few shipping routes in approximate areas.
Now with the process of globalization and improvement in material and human flows interfaces are not uncommon and the Caribbean basin is one of them (source 2)
The US and the islands have interacted differently throughout history. Convenient geographical location has made the US spread its zone of influence all over the Caribbean and constituted what we know as the "American Backyard". A long history of military interventions for instance in Mexico and Cuba as well as military bases in Antigua and Barbuda has initiated a lot of relations in the area. In fact the Bahamas are even linked to the US currency. (source 1)
Caribbean one of the most important corridors for internal migration:
Incoming and outgoing migration : the Caribbean Basin has over 12 000 000 migrants —> coming from Columbia, Dominican republic and Mexico to go to Europe. South Americans go to Oceania and US (primary destinations). Antigua go to Asia and former dutch colonies go to Africa.
The important migration from the Caribbean and especially towards surrounding regions such as the states shows that there is in fact a relation and free circulation making it easy for them to go there —> interface presence of relation.
there is also migration towards the Caribbean (though much less migration. outwards). Most migration comes from North America (95%) and Europe (61%) —> perhaps induced by economic links through trade and also attractive "exotic" areas with major hubs.
Overall people flows shows that there
is economic and cultural interaction and also free circulation meaning borders are open, The Caribbean's are not shut from the rest of the world, thus another characteristic making them an interface. (source 6)
The area is both composed of MDCs and LDCs because some areas such as Guadalupe belong to the EU and therefore are part of the triad.
HDI Latin America and the Caribbean, only three regions have a high HDI and only a single one is located in the Caribbean Cuba. Whereas Chili and Cuba are better off, thus showing the disparities between Latin America and the Caribbean —> did not develop at the same rate.
Generally high HDI e.g. Trinidad, Columbia, Costa Rica they are developing areas that have experienced significant economic Growth in addition to being former colonies.
Haiti has the lowest HDI. Medium HDI mostly Latin America : Honduras Guatemala and Bolivia. The lack of development has lead to Constant exchanges —> human flows. (Source 6,5, 4 and 8)
HISTORY
How to situate the Caribbeans : ✏
Small islands, name coming from the eponymous sea, linked the two American continents and constitutes the arc. Its Name describes geographical entity (historically and geographically). Caribbean not sure of the boundaries sometimes big sometimes small sometimes the same sometimes diverse in that sense it is not a conventional interface because the boundaries are hard to determine.
Sedimentation has caused the area to develop and expand spreading to the whole coast of South American continent, it occupies a large surface.
Historical Background : ✏
Historically Caribbean was heavily colonized which has contributed to the area being an American and world interface
Political economic changes in 19th century : other transformation, regional entity growing away from Europe. Close proximity to the United States —> became their backyard. Having been colonies for the most part lead to a strong cultural influence as well (e.g. Trinidad and Tobago are culturally close to Britain)
Discontinuity diversity, fragmentation. In 19th and 20th century political disparity made transport hard,
Marginalize the Caribbean basin created even more disparities. Not entirely developed at the same level and not entirely sustainable no significant political actions occurring within the islands. Too much dependency on the former colonizers hence their role as an interface (source 5)
The Caribbean regroups different islands that are culturally different yet they are all comprised in the North South interface.
We will see in this Case Study what elements make the Caribbean a North/South interface and how certain things could compromise these interactions/ relations for instance things like under development or inequalities.
CONCLUSION: ❌ crime and corruption in the Caribbean —> could potentially make it a less attractive hub and trade zone, because a high crime record could make it less reliable. The varying levels of development show that the area is fragmented nonetheless. Under development is the cause for a lot of human flows outside of the area thus showing that in spite of having multiple hubs some areas are still impoverished and are not developed enough to hope for a decent life. Overall instability and lack of security can compromise the islands' position as a zone of economic and cultural exchange.
CONCLUSION: the Caribbean is overall a North South interface since it comprises most of the characteristics of an interface, it is open and free of circulation hence the multiple material and human flows as well as their economic organization CARICOM. Trade is very important, the Caribbean has several major hubs and the flows go towards the former colonies in Europe and North and South America. Historically colonizers have left a strong influence which is why culturally certain Islands are quite similar to either the US or Europe. Overall the Caribbeans are a result of past economic and cultural relations that they still sustain today (in spite of facing certain challenges like under development) The Caribbean Basin truly constitutes a North South interface.