CARIBBEAN STUDIESFACTORS AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT

Political ideologies Distribution of wealth Changing class boundaries Natural and man-made disasters Impact of productive sector Tourism

FACTORS

Ideologies are the sets of basic beliefs about the political, economic, social and cultural affairs held by the majority of people within as society.

An ideology is a collection of ideas. Typically, each ideology contains certain ideas on what it considers to be the best form of government and the best economic system (e.g. capitalism, socialism, etc.).

Political ideologies- Definition

A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power and to what ends it should be used.

Political ideologies have two dimensions:◦ Goals: How society should function or be

organized.

◦ Methods: The most appropriate way to achieve this goal.

Political ideologies

Ideologies also identify themselves by their position on the political spectrum (such as the left, the centre or the right), though this is very often controversial.

THE LEFT / LEFT-WING◦ liberty.  The freedom of speech and the right to

dissent. ◦ equality.  A classless society with the

redistribution of wealth through a welfare state. ◦ fraternity.  The communal brotherhood, working

and living as one.

Political ideologies

THE RIGHT/ RIGHT-WING◦ authority.  The preservation of order through an

evolved authority. ◦ hierarchy.  The continuation of the existing

social order. ◦ property.  The right to private ownership.

Political ideologies

absolutism. System where the rulers have unlimited control. anarchism. Society without government, laws, police or

other authority. System of self-control. aristocracy. The privilege of social class whose members

possess disproportionately large percentage of society's wealth, prestige and political influence.

autocracy. Supreme political power is in the hands of one person whose decision are unregulated..

capitalism.  Right-wing political system where the principle means of production and distribution are in private hands.

communism.  Extreme left-wing ideology based on the revolutionary socialist teachings of Marx. Collective ownership and a planned economy. Each should work to their capability and receive according to their needs.

Political ideologies - Types

conservatism. Governmental system where the existing institution are maintained, emphasizing free-enterprise and minimal governmental intervention.

democracy. Government by the people usually through elected representatives.

dictatorship. Government by a single person with absolute control over the resources of the state.

egalitaranism. Belief where all citizens have equal rights and privileges.

fascism.  Extreme right-wing ideology where the existing social order is protected by the forcible suppression of the working class.

imperialism. The extension of power and rule beyond established geographical boundaries.

Political ideologies - Types

liberalism. Representative government, free-speech, abolition of class privilege and state protection of the individual.

Marxism. Developed by Marx and Engles, it proposes that all is subject to change and resistance to change necessitates the overthrow of the system through class struggle.

Maoism. Interpretation of Marxist communism emphasizing the development of agriculture.

Monarchy. A form of rule in which the head of state is a King or Queen.

nationalism. The unification of the state and release from foreign rule.

oligarchy. A system of government in which virtually all power is held a small number of wealthy people who shape policy to benefit themselves.

Political ideologies - Types

populism. Collective noun for the ideologies which demand the redistribution of political power and economic leadership to the 'common people'.

socialism.  Left-wing political system where the principle means of production, distribution and exchange are in common ownership.

theocracy. Rule by the church. totalitarianism. Government control of all

activities. Trotskyism. Form of Marxism incorporating the

concept of permanent revolution.

Political ideologies - Types

Promote◦ Capitalist or free state/enterprise- dominant

political ideology of the Caribbean

Hinder◦ Marxist-type revolutions- attempts at increasing

human equity (Grenada, 1979; Cuba,1959; Guyana, 1960-70’s)

Political ideologies - Caribbean

Promote◦ Social Mobility: the movement of a person from one status to

another, either between generations or within a person's adult career.

◦ Measure: index of social and economic equalization

Hinder◦ Poverty:- unable to provide basic needs

If human development is about enlarging choices, poverty means that most basic opportunities and choices to human development are denied. From a human development perspective, poverty means more than the lack of what is necessary for material well-being. Recognising the poverty of choices and opportunities implies that poverty must be addressed in all its dimensions, not income alone.

Distribution of wealth

◦ Inequality:-◦ Measure:

Levels of income Human poverty Index: a measurement system based

on what is lacking in different areas of the world. and it gathers data in developing countries and in those with higher incomes so a basis for comparison

Gini Index-The Gini index is defined as a ratio of the areas on the Lorenz curve diagram.

The Gini Index is a measure of the inequality of a distribution, a value of 0 expressing total equality and a value of 100 maximal inequality.

Distribution of wealth

Gini Index Values (2004)◦ Haiti -65◦ St. Vincent & the Grenadines- 60◦ U.S. – 36

High levels of poverty can coincide with a high Gini Index e.g. St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Low levels of poverty can coincide with a high Gini Index e.g. Antigua & Barbuda

Distribution of wealth- Caribbean

Promote◦ Social Mobility: the movement of a person from

one status to another, either between generations or within a person's adult career.

Changing class boundaries

Hinder◦ Social Stratification: a hierarchy of positions with

regard to economic production which influences the social rewards to those in the positions.

◦ Social Exclusion“Social exclusion is a broader concept than poverty,encompassing not only low material means but theinability to participate effectively in economic, social,political and cultural life and in some characterisationsalienation and distance from mainstream society”

(Duffy,1995).

Changing class boundaries

Promote◦ Employment generated◦ Increased planning: social, physical◦ Infrastructural development: roads, bridges etc.

Hinder◦ Destruction of the environment

Man-made, Natural◦ Changes in developmental plans

Immediate aid Diversion of funds and resources

Natural and man-made disasters

Promote◦ Reduced dependency on imports◦ Increased foreign exchange earnings◦ Employment generated

Hinder◦ Increased environmental degradation

Pollution Toxicity Global warming / Carbon footprint

Impact of Productive Sector

Promote◦ Human resources development; skills◦ Economic Development: jobs, foreign exchange◦ Increased Linkages: agricultural development

Hinder◦ Increased environmental degradation

Pollution/Toxicity Beach erosion, Habitat Destruction

◦ Resentment among locals/Racial tensions◦ Leakage: profits leave country

Tourism

The three indicators of the human poverty index (HPI)◦ The first deprivation relates to survival: the likeliness of

death at a relatively early age and is represented by the probability of not surviving to ages 40 and 60 respectively for the HPI-1 and HPI-2.

◦ The second dimension relates to knowledge: being excluded from the world of reading and communication and is measured by the percentage of adults who are illiterate.

◦ The third aspect relates to a decent standard of living, in particular, overall economic provisioning.

Appendix

http://www.fisicx.com/quickreference/politics/ideologies.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_ideologies

http://www.sociologyguide.com/questions/social-stratification.php

http://cop.mdgasiapacific.org/files/cop/AP-MDG-Social/20071113_egm_avatthi.pdf

(all rights reserved by relevant authors)

Sources