CARIBBEAN STUDIES

CARIBBEAN STUDIES PAST PAPER REVIEW 2009

QUESTION ONE Explain what is meant by the following terms: • Plural society • Mestizo • dougla

RESPONSE • A plural society is one in which there are several distinct racial/ethnic groups who interact with each other, but keep distinct lines between them in fundamental areas. • Mestizo was the name given to individuals of European and Amerindian heritage • Dougla refers to an individual who is mixed with African and East Indian ancestry.

QUESTION TWO • Define the term ‘soil erosion’.

RESPONSE • The continuous removal of the top layer of soil from the surface of the land, whether by the action of the wind, water, gravity, earth movements or by mankind.

QUESTION THREE • Describe TWO processes that have contributed to soil erosion in the Caribbean

RESPONSE • Landslides, flooding, hurricanes, extreme wave action • Deforestation in places like Haiti could be a major cause of soil erosion.

QUESTION FOUR • Name TWO groups of indentured labourers who were brought to the Caribbean after emancipation in 1838.

RESPONSE • East Indians • Chinese

QUESTION FIVE • Give TWO reasons why EACH group of indentured labourers were brought to the Caribbean.

RESPONSE • The search for the cheapest supply of labour • The shortage or scarcity of labourin some colonies • The deliberate use of indentured immigrants to frustrate the formerly enslaved.

QUESTION SIX • Explain what is meant by the term ‘the family as a social institution.’

RESPONSE • This refers to the primary social unit which socialises the infant and growing young person in the morals, values and practices of the basic human unit and the wider society as a whole.

QUESTION SEVEN • Outline TWO reasons why many Caribbean family forms were considered ‘dysfunctional’ by colonial authorities.

RESPONSE • The nuclear family was seen as the norm and the colonial authorities did not regard Caribbean families, such s those with single parents, or extended families as proper forms • These families were matrifocal as in Africa and this offended the sense of male superiority held by colonial authorities and the belief in male supremacy in the European household.

QUESTION EIGHT • Describe Two ways in which immigrant labour from the Caribbean has impacted on the economies of Europe and North America.

RESPONSE • Caribbean migrants become consumers in the host economies and so further contribute to the economies • Migrant labour provides these countries with relatively cheap labour, especially in the manual, menial jobs which natives do not wish to perform.

QUESTION NINE • Describe One way in which Cuban immigrants have influenced policy in North America.

RESPONSE • The powerful Cuban lobby in Florida has had a direct impact on legislation, regulating legal and illegal migration from Cuba to the US. IT has also served as a powerful pressure group that has affected governance and voting in the U.S.

QUESTION TEN • Define the term ‘per capita income’.

RESPONSE • Per capita income is the total income earned from goods and services produced by a country in one year divided by the total population for that country in that year.

QUESTION ELEVEN • Explain ONE way in which ‘levels of income’ is a better indicator of development than ‘per capita income’.

RESPONSE • Levels of income is a better indicator of development because levels of income speaks to categories of income of a variety of individuals such as teachers, lawyers, construction workers. These categories can be used to indicate the growth levels in an economy especially when these levels of income are rising.

QUESTION TWELVE • Define the term ‘popular movement’

RESPONSE • A popular movement is one that is initiated by the ideas of the masses, or was developed for the masses. It can have local or international appeal.

QUESTION THIRTEEN • Describe Two ways in which a named popular movement in the Caribbean has contributed to national identity.

RESPONSE • Rastafarianism has created a sense of black consciousness • Rastafarianism has contributed to our rejection of colonial/European rule.

QUESTION FOURTEEN • Explain what is meant by the ‘mutual advantage’ concept of social justice.

RESPONSE • Refers to the social contract that exists between the state and its citizens, whether written or unwritten. The state is expected to protect the rights of its citizens in so far as the citizens are expected to obey the laws and statutes of the state.

QUESTION FIFTEEN • Distinguish between ‘prejudice’ and ‘discrimination’.

RESPONSE • Prejudice is born of emotion, it is an attitude, a strong belief that is personal and subjective. Discrimination is action oriented and involves action that is directed against an individual or group. The difference between the two is that prejudice does not move beyond the realm of belief and thus inflicts no physical harm on the person or group targeted.

QUESTION SIXTEEN • Define the term ‘mass media’.

RESPONSE • The mass media refers to all those channels which communicate messages to large audiences simultaneously. These channels can be placed in two categories – the print media and the electronic media.`

QUESTION SEVENTEEN • Explain ONE way in which the Caribbean mass media has hindered the promotion of a Caribbean entertainment industry

RESPONSE • The mass media in the Caribbean engages in the broadcast of foreign entertainment, thereby promoting foreign values and crowding out local entertainment • The mass media only portrays caribbean artistes when they are recognized by international music labels e.g. Sean Paul, Rihanna

QUESTION EIGHTEEN • Explain One way in which the mass media has assisted in the promotion of Caribbean entertainment internationally.

RESPONSE • Engaging in the promotion of entertainment through advertising and the broadcast of live concerts.

QUESTION NINETEEN • Explain the term ‘pan –africanism’.

RESPONSE • Pan –Africanism is an ideology which regards Africa and African people as a unit and it thus promotes the unification of African people and the glorification of the african past.

QUESTION TWENTY • Give one reason why some interest groups in the Caribbean opposed Pan –Africanism.

RESPONSE • The white planter merchant class was the main opposition group who saw the education and enlightenment of the former enslaved as maintaining colonialism.

QUESTION 21 • State ONE way in which Pan – Africanistsattempted to unite people of the African diaspora.

RESPONSE • Through organizing pan-African conferences and newspapers which promoted the idea of African unification.

ESSAY QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1 • Examine THREE measures that Caribbean countries can implement to minimize the danger posed to coral reefs in the region. (20 marks)

RESPONSE • Educating individuals and groups such as fishermen, farmers hoteliers and even tourists would be part of the effort to increase awareness about the importance of reefs and to encourage all to protect them. • Governments have established and should continue to establish marine-protected zones around important coastal regions inhabited by coral species and fish as the official stance or policy in the fight to guard the reefs.

RESPONSE • Laws should be passed to protect the shoreline and to establish activities that would be viewed as criminal and against the environment. Such laws would be against pollution of the seas and would guard against activities such as trawling, a method of fishing that can damage the reef and alter its environment.

RESPONSE • With legislation in place, marine officers would be empowered to protect the coastline and be watchful of cruise ships and large yachts, that have been noted to damage the reefs.

RESPONSE • Governments could adopt a regional approach to the issue in an effort to provide a central policy. This would allow for a united stance against criminal and negligent activities that damage the reefs. Governments could share intelligence of the issue and benefit from a collective aproach.

QUESTION 2 • Examine THREE ways in which the justice system, as a social institution, impacts on society and culture.

CARIBBEAN STUDIES