Caribbean Sociology
THE INNERINNER-DYNAMICS of the the CARIBBEAN
IMPLICATIONS for CARIBBEAN SOCIOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
PROBLEM:
PROBLEM:
OVERVIEW
Every discourse has a context. Every discourse has a motive. The Sociology that developed in 19th century France was a response to the social crisis that was experienced there at that time. The Sociology that developed in 19th century France had a context. The man who is considered to be the founding father of Sociology,
Auguste Comte was convinced that a science of society was possible and would be capable of reconstructing French society. The major problematic of France in the 19th century was the need to reconstruct French society. Thus, the motive of 19th century
European Sociology was to develop principles that would guide the reconstruction of
France. It is extremely important to recognize that Auguste Comte was motivated by the need to make a contribution to the development of his society.
As sociologists of the Caribbean, we cannot overlook this critical component of sociological discourse. Sociologists of the Caribbean must focus on making a contribution to the upliftment of the people of the Caribbean. In order to do this, we must identify the major problematic of the region i.e. the context upon which a genuine sociology of the Caribbean is built.
Caribbean Sociologists can make a positive contribution to the development of the region. However, in order to this, they must adopt a highly critical perspective. We cannot continue to engage in what Holmes and Crossley (2004) refer to as the
“uncritical, intercultural transfer of knowledge and models of development”.
While sociological models of the Caribbean (plural, creole, plantation society theses) focus on the outer-structural features of the Caribbean reality, it is important to appreciate that Caribbean society is reflected in a powerful way in the consciousness of
Caribbean people. The peculiarity and complexity of the reality that is the Caribbean lies in the fact that making
IMPLICATIONS for CARIBBEAN SOCIOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
PROBLEM:
PROBLEM:
OVERVIEW
Every discourse has a context. Every discourse has a motive. The Sociology that developed in 19th century France was a response to the social crisis that was experienced there at that time. The Sociology that developed in 19th century France had a context. The man who is considered to be the founding father of Sociology,
Auguste Comte was convinced that a science of society was possible and would be capable of reconstructing French society. The major problematic of France in the 19th century was the need to reconstruct French society. Thus, the motive of 19th century
European Sociology was to develop principles that would guide the reconstruction of
France. It is extremely important to recognize that Auguste Comte was motivated by the need to make a contribution to the development of his society.
As sociologists of the Caribbean, we cannot overlook this critical component of sociological discourse. Sociologists of the Caribbean must focus on making a contribution to the upliftment of the people of the Caribbean. In order to do this, we must identify the major problematic of the region i.e. the context upon which a genuine sociology of the Caribbean is built.
Caribbean Sociologists can make a positive contribution to the development of the region. However, in order to this, they must adopt a highly critical perspective. We cannot continue to engage in what Holmes and Crossley (2004) refer to as the
“uncritical, intercultural transfer of knowledge and models of development”.
While sociological models of the Caribbean (plural, creole, plantation society theses) focus on the outer-structural features of the Caribbean reality, it is important to appreciate that Caribbean society is reflected in a powerful way in the consciousness of
Caribbean people. The peculiarity and complexity of the reality that is the Caribbean lies in the fact that making
Bibliography: Adrien, Peter. 1990. Capitalism, Metayage and Development: A shifting shifting Pattern of Development in Dennery, St. Lucia, 18401840-1959. Beckford, George. 1967. The WestWest-Indian Banana Industry. Casimir. J and Y. Acosta. 1982 . Social Structural changes in St. Lucia. Holmes Keith and Michael Crossley (2004). “Whose Knowledge, Whose Values? The Contribution of Local Knowledge to Education Policy Processes: A Case Study of Lewis, Arthur. 1993. The Evolution of the Peasantry in the British WestWest-Indies. London Tewarie, Bhoendradat (2004), “Critical Thinking” Walcott, Derek. Collected Poems. Faber and Faber, London. 1996. Walcott, Derek. Omeros. Farar Straus Giroux, New York. 1991.