Globalization and Tourism in the Caribbean

Photo Taken from hollywoodrepublican.net

Globalization, we hear so much about it yet we never seem to grasp the concept. Globalization is “The process whereby ‘flows of trade, finance, and information between countries are broadened and deepened so that they function so that they function as one global market” (Mohammed, 2007). But yet most of these products come from the global north, namely the US and Europe so how "global" is it???

Globalization is merely seen by many as the deepening and forcing of the ways of the advanced states onto smaller states, which will shape them into being like them, and thus follow their trends, lifestyle and consumption patterns. Why do they want us to be like them you ask? Lets just say in "Trini slang", you quicker buy KFC than eat a plate of blue food. Meaning persons see these foods as superior to the foods in their own country, and thus it works as a symbol of status.

As it stands, the Caribbean like many other Lesser Economically Developed Countries cannot compete on these global markets due to the scale of their operations, or lack of manufacturing plants, which leaves their products at higher prices due to the production costs, making it cheaper in some instances to import the products.

Photo Taken from golearncaribbean.com

The tourism market is also linked to globalization as it involves the movement of capital, provides services and includes multinational corporations. The typical line associated with the tourism in the Caribbean is "sea, sun and sand" but many argue that "sex" should be added, as the exoticising  of the tropical image leads to prostitution being a new market associated with tourism. Tourism also brings the stereotypes of the Caribbean, which is then acted out by the locals as they give the image to the tourist of what they expect. This was already expanded upon in the first post on "What is the Caribbean?"

Fanon's Marxist ideologies can be seen in the ways of globalization, as it shows the class struggles of the lower classes to stay relevant in the expanding global economies. It shows how women (and to the lesser extent men) are forced into prostitution, how the global north countries use their power and scale to further broaden their hold on the global south by means of economic ways. This leaves us to wonder, if as Fanon said, did we really become independent or did the leaders just change, but the system remained the same?!?!