CARIBBEAN

MODELS
Plantation Society, Plural
Society and Class Society

Plantation Society

There are 2 perspectives of plantation society:

The

plantation society is characteristic of the period of

slavery and is thus representative of a distinct aspect
of our past.
Some sociologists noted that the plantation society of
the past still exists as a model for explaining the
structures of the current society.

Of the 2nd perspective, Susan Craig identified a

weak and a strong variant

Weak variant: Orlando Patterson, Michael

Horowitz and Charles Wagley
This

asserts that the plantation is

characterized by unstable family
organizations, hierarchical class relations,
mobile labour force due to seasonal
employment and low levels of community
involvement.

Strong variant: George Beckford

He

sees the modern society as a replica of

the plantation system.

George Beckford

Contemporary Caribbean societies are just one

big plantation created by our historical
experience of slavery and the system of
agricultural production.

Though there are slight changes, predominantly

maintain the prescribes of the past plantation
society.

This is evidenced in our demographic

composition, economy, society and political
structure.

Demography
The

composition of races remains the same

now as the era of slavery:
Majority of African descent, significant number
of mixed or brown persons and minority
White. The Indians and Chinese fell in the
minority shortly after emancipation when they
were brought in as indentured labourers.

Economy
The

ownership of property remains in the hands

of the few elite (predominantly White)

The

economic system transcends the local level

to the international level as transnational
corporations (TNCS) and multinational
corporations (MNCS) continue to settle in the
Caribbean. Note that majority of the profits are
returned to the metropole.

Caribbean

territories remain dependent on the

export of agricultural products, including the
plantation crops of sugar and banana.
metropolitan economies are the primary targets
for export .

Political
Political

power remains in the hands a the few

white elites. The black leaders that are
forefront in the society are elected and
maintained by the white minority.
The ruling ideologies therefore remain the
ideologies of the white (behind a black face)

Social
The

society comprises different racial and cultural

groupings brought together for economic
purposes.

The

stratification system of white at top, brown in

middle and black at bottom permeates into the
occupational grouping/ ranking in current
societies.

Education

is now a vehicle for mobility increasing

the numbers in the intermediary brown group.
Notwithstanding this persons still adhere to the
view of the supremacy of the white culture. Social
mobility becomes synonymous with adopting a
white European way of life.

Criticisms

Brathwaite argues that every society is

pluralistic, thus being distinguishable by cultural
groupings.

Change has occurred: eg. tourism, sports and

entertainment. The Caribbean is seen as a price
setter in these areas, moving away from the
traditional position of the Car being price takers.

Manufacturing and service industries are now

widely developed and play a greater role in GDP
than agricultural production export (eg. Trinidad)

The social order under the plantation system

has weakened. The current system allows for
both upward & downward mobility. There is
increased opportunity for upward mobility
(education).

There is a diminished significance of agriculture.

This is linked to the growth in the service
(tourism) and manufacturing (oil) sectors.

Carl Stone argues that Caribbean people are

distinguished by class.

Plural Society M.G. Smith

This is a conflict theory presenting society
as being divided by culture.
Smith regards the society as being
distinguishable by cultural groupings:
white culture, black culture and a brown
culture.
This is extended for territories with Asian
and Chinese cultures.

NOTE: the distinction between cultural

groupings does not necessarily parallel racial
distinctions.
Each group in the society can be distinguished
by a distinct way of life (social patterns, value
systems and institutional activities).
The groups mix but do not mingle. They share
the same geographical space but do not share
the same institutions and values.
Though cultural universals exist (marriage,
family, education, religion and property) they act
as the basis for making a distinction between the
groups.

White

Black

Brown

General

Dominant &
smallest
Comprise persons
primarily raised
abroad

Majority & lowest

ranked
Folk culture
evidenced through
African retentions

Middle group;
culture variable
showing a mixture
of patterns from
the other 2 groups

Family

Nuclear
Bilateral authority:
mother & father
have authority

Matriarchal; single
parent; female
headed household

Patriarchal
authority; division of
labour btw husband
& wife distinct;
commonlaw

Religion

Aligned to British
society
Faith intermingled
with science

Likened to African
Christianity
ritual forms such as
obeah, sprit
possession &
magic

Education

Professionals with
university training,
entrepreneurs &
land owners

Little chance of
formal education
beyond elementary
school

Local secondary
schools

Criticisms

Brathwaite argues that every society is plural to

some extent. There is no homogenous society.
Thus Smith failed to explain the variations that
existed within particular cultural groupings.
Associated with this is his failure to explain inter
group conflict.
Though Smith identified his theory as a conflict
perspective, he failed to show the direction of the
conflict.
Critics note that the institutional distinctions noted
by Smith (family, ed. etc) do not necessarily lead
to conflict.

His presentation of cultural distinctions

with reference to colour generates
confusion as regards the dissimilarity btw
culture and race/ ethnicity.
Stone: class not culture

Class Society Carl Stone

Stone advocates that stratification in the Car is

based on material differences.

He notes that the economic changes in Jamaica

has allowed for an expansion of new social
classes and a modified stratification system. The
growth of the manufacturing and service sector
allowed for a more diverse and fragmented class
structure and opened up new modes of mobility.

Stone acknowledges that race, colour and

occupational prestige are determinants of
social status in the Caribbean but
maintains that all these are outweighed by
income levels.