TS – The plantation society model served the purpose of rigidly structuring society in order to facilitate clear economic goals. The Caribbean has since shed many of the harsh rigidities of the system in favour of more liberal social order but many elements of the plantation system still remain today. Much like the plantation model, the Caribbean continues to be rooted in economic development and productivity. Still, some change has occurred over the years to amend the plantation model to modern society.
1) DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS – Thorough explanation of your understanding of the plantation model, in terms of rigid social stratification and economic significance; definition of the CARIBBEAN (in this case, historical definition)
2) ECON – (THEN) The plantation system was supported by slave labour and economic life. It was heavily concerned with the economic organization of an agricultural system. (NOW) In Caribbean society today, many countries are still heavily rooted in agricultural production – a legacy of the colonial past (eg. Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, Cuba, Santo Domingo and Belize), while others have moved away to some extent (eg. Trinidad).
3) ECON – (THEN) The plantation was structured as such to support a system of labour. This system of labour was geared towards the maximization of output through specialization. (NOW) Labour and society are not necessarily as closely linked. Our society is no longer rigidly stratified in such a way as to support the country’s labour and economic systems
4) ECON – (THEN)The plantation society model was based on an economic monoculture, specifically sugar (NOW) tremendous economic diversification has occurred with Caribbean territories learning from the economic vulnerabilities of the past. Though there may not have been as much diversification in the agricultural sector,