The Contemporary Caribbean
Robert Potter, University of Reading
David Barker, University of West Indies
Dennis Conway, Indiana University
Thomas Klak, Miami University, Ohio

ISBN-10: 0582418534
ISBN-13: 9780582418530

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2004
Format: Paper; 528 pp
Published: 09/02/2004

Suggested retail price: $86.40
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This text focuses on the contemporary economic, social, geographical, environmental and political realities of the Caribbean region. Historical aspects of the Caribbean, such as slavery, the plantation system and plantocracy are explored in order to explain the contemporary nature of, and challenges faced by, the Caribbean. The book is divided into three parts, dealing respectively with: the foundations of the Caribbean, rural and urban bases of the contemporary Caribbean, and global restructuring and the Caribbean: industry, tourism and politics.

This is a comprehensive tertiary level textbook aimed at students taking courses that involve consideration of the contemporary character of the Caribbean region. The book should be of value to undergraduates and postgraduates taking courses in geography, development studies, Black studies, social policy and social science, economics and politics, as well as more generally in the social sciences.

 

  • Stresses the contemporary nature of the Caribbean as the primary focus, but covers its foundations in historical processes
  • Reflecting the topic, the text is well-illustrated by means of maps, figures, graphics and photographs
  • Boxed case studies are presented in each chapter, principally, but not exclusively, in order to provide country or region specific case studies. For example, ?Promoting Export-oriented manufacturing: the example of St Lucia?s National Development Corporation?, ?Grenada, from "not for sale" to "for sale": US opposition to its socialist experiment; ?Patterns of settlement and economic activity in Guyana?, ?urbanization and the structure of San Juan, Puerto Rico?, ?Housing in Cuba: the contribution of the Microbrigade System.

Contents
Preface
Introduction
PART I FOUNDATIONS OF THE CARIBBEAN
1. The Caribbean Landscape
2. Populations and Migration
PART II RURAL AND URBAN BASES OF THE CONTEMPORARY CARIBBEAN
3. Agriculture and agrarian Structure
4. Vulnerability and the Impact of Natural Hazards
5. Social Conditions
6. Housing in the Caribbean
7. Urban Dynamics and Townscapes
PART III GLOBAL RESTRUCTURING AND THE CARIBBEAN: INDUSTRY, TOURISM AND POLITICS
8. Industrialization, Development and Economic Change
9. Offshore Services and the Caribbean
10. Globalisation and the Caribbean
11. Tourism, Environment and Development
12. Political Realities and the Caribbean

The Contemporary Caribbean

provides an illuminating and detailed overview of the contemporary economic, social, geographical, environmental and political realities of the Caribbean region. Historical aspects of the Caribbean, such as slavery, the plantation system and plantocracy are covered in order to explain the contemporary nature of, and challenges faced by, the Caribbean.

Most previously authored texts on the Caribbean tend to approach the subject from discrete and particular perspectives (e.g. history, environment, business, media) and as such fail to present an holistic view of the extant nature of this complex region. The book is divided into three parts, dealing respectively with: the foundations of the Caribbean, rural and urban bases of the contemporary Caribbean, and global restructuring and the Caribbean: industry, globalization, tourism and politics.

Main features:

  • Stresses the contemporary nature of the Caribbean as its primary focus, but also covers the foundations in historical processes of the region.
  • Well-illustrated with maps, figures, graphics and photographs.
  • Boxed case studies are presented in each chapter, principally, but not exclusively, to provide country or region-specific case studies. For example, ?Promoting export-oriented manufacturing: the example of St Lucia?s National Development Corporation?; ?Grenada, from "not for sale" to "for sale": US opposition to its socialist experiment; ?Patterns of settlement and economic activity in Guyana?; ?Urbanisation and urban structure of San Juan, Puerto Rico?; and ?Housing in Cuba: the contribution of the microbrigade system.

 

This is a comprehensive tertiary level textbook aimed at students taking courses that involve consideration of the contemporary character of the Caribbean region. The book will be of value to undergraduates and postgraduates taking courses in geography, development studies, black studies, social policy and social science, economics and politics, as well as more generally in the social sciences.

 

Robert B. Potter is Professor of Human Geography and Director of Research in the School of Human and Environmental Sciences at the University of Reading. David Barker is Senior Lecturer in Geography at the University of the West Indies. Dennis Conway is Professor of Geography at Indiana University. Thomas Klak is Professor of Geography at Miami University, Ohio. All four authors have considerable experience in undertaking first-hand research in the Caribbean.

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