A Fragmented Caribbean Empire

The Caribbean was on the receiving end of their share of expeditions and campaigns. The fierce resistance that unfolded between Europeans and the First Peoples, enslaved Africans and indentured Indians. The Choson dynasty in Korea resisted the Japanese invasion in 1592. Not surprisingly, Japan’s rule of Korea resulted in a liberation movement and divisive war. Such reverberations would be mirrored in the independence movements across the Caribbean in the 20th century.

The network of railroads and architectures that comprise the Caribbean Empire were built by arrogant conquerors. This was not a unique feature as infrastructure had been constructed occurred across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and Australia. It was part of the physical landscape of conquest, migration, colonization and settlement. Simultaneous emotional and psychological landscapes had also become entrenched in the minds of the conquered and colonized in the Caribbean.

The class structure of the Caribbean landscape also experienced a gradual makeover. In the post-World War Two era, the term ‘working class’ was synonymous with trade unions and those involved in manual and lowly paid mental labour; whilst the upper and middle classes were defined by their wealth and occupational status. However from the 1970s, during the oil boom, the working class in many countries became part of the middle class. Inflation and economic problems have contributed to some in the middle class being relegated to the working class. The rise of gated communities, weakened Labour movements and drug trafficking have changed the composition and behavior patterns of the Caribbean class structure.

The first chapter provides brief insight into indentureship in the Caribbean and other areas of the world. The sinister twins of colonialism and imperialism had a deleterious impact on the region. The constant need for cheap, human labor during the 19th and 20th centuries drained India. Chapter Two focuses on the impact of Indians in the political life of Trinidad and Tobago during the 1920s and 1930s. The historical forces that were shaping the British Empire had a significant influence on the socio-political evolution of the British West Indies. The early elections in Trinidad and Tobago, was indicative of the rise of a racial consciousness which would have implications on future efforts along the road to self-government.

The focus on personalities is one of the attempts to pinpoint the builders and shapers of the Caribbean Empire. It is in this context that Chapter Three focuses on the brief life of Rudranath Capildeo, a Caribbean personality, who made a noteworthy contribution to the scientific field. His local recognition was primarily due to the service as leader of a political party that helped guide Trinidad and Tobago to independent status.

In attempting to understand the perception of the Caribbean, there is need to examine the manner in which the region is viewed by other researchers and those outside the region. In Chapter Four, the perception and value of Caribbean History is examined. Undoubtedly, Caribbean History is often undervalued in the fields of World History and Global History. In retrospect, West Indian or Caribbean History cannot remain hidden or camouflaged and continue being marginalized and overlooked.

In Chapter Five there is an analysis of the university in the Caribbean as the most significant space from the 19th century. The tertiary institution incorporated a significant section of the region into the scholarly networking of the British empire. Interestingly, these networks which developed were not limited to universities but included secondary schools and technical education. A fundamental product of the scholarly networks was the gradual creation of a Caribbean identity. It was from these intellectual and academic spaces that local leaders and creative minds emerged.

In the 21st century, an empire cannot be simply defined by borders or geographical space. The final chapter focuses on selected literary texts, examining cultural chauvinism. The arguments prove the need to be carefully trained and appreciative of textual analysis and comparative studies. The comparative analysis and cultural chauvinism featured in the works of Caribbean-born writers as V.S. Naipaul, Edgar Mittelholzer and Samuel Selvon have been ongoing by critics in the region and abroad.