This web site is for you, the GT34A students. A class web site can be a creative way of getting students excited about a subject, keeping them up to date on assignments, and providing them with valuable online resources.
On this site you will find the course outline with links to online readings, lecture notes, plenty of links so students can explore a wealth of ideas on the web, past exams, and a little bit about me.
I have used websites like this in the past and they appear to have been well received by my students. I hope you will find it useful and fun, and I welcome any feedback and suggestions you might have.
Download the course outline here
Course Description
Caribbean countries today arguably face the same political and economic challenges that they have since independence: they are constrained by small size and apparently insurmountable obstacles to realize sustainable and independent economic development. This course introduces the theory and practice of Caribbean foreign policy, from independence to present day. We will primarily examine the English speaking Caribbean, but we will also consider the non-English speaking Caribbean as we explore the background to and present-day challenges of economic development, regional integration, and prestige and relevance as international actors. We will also explore the relationships with specific countries and regions.
By the end of the course the students should have an appreciation and critical understanding of the basis and rationale for the political and economic position of the Caribbean in the international arena, and basic knowledge of the historical trajectory of Caribbean foreign policy.
This is a demanding course with a considerable work load. It is very intense considering the short period of time that the summer school schedule allows for. However, the course schedule and requirements have been structured in such a way that, along with your own efforts to plan your time and pace yourself, the course is entirely manageable. Each assignment will contribute to the next, so there will be a continuous accumulation of knowledge of the subject matter as you progress in the course. And of course, as with most other courses, you will get from it what you put in.
Course Requirements
Students will be assessed based on the following:
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Tutorial attendance, participation and assignments |
10% |
Weekly |
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Midterm test |
10% |
June 28 |
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One 12-15 page research paper |
20% |
Due July 9 in tutorial |
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Final examination |
60% |
Date to be announced |
The latest course-related news is HERE!
Last updated 15-May-04
Special note to students in GT34A Summer 2004
I apologize for not being present for this first week of the course. Prior to being asked to teach in summer school, I had made a commitment to chair a panel and present a paper at the Caribbean Studies Association conference, the most important academic gathering for Caribbean scholars.
Mr. Prince Neto Waite has kindly agreed to assist with presenting two sets of films in lieu of lectures for this first week of class. The first is an 86-minute feature-film documentary called Life and Debt, a critically acclaimed film about Jamaica and the complexities of economic globalization.
For the second lecture, Mr. Waite will show a 45-minute episode, Backyard, from the CNN documentary series, Cold War. I have been using this series in courses for over two years now, and the students have found them very informative and helpful. We will also view a 60-minute episode, The New Rules of the Game, from the highly regarded PBS documentary series Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy.
Nevertheless, we will make up the four missed hours of lecture according to a mutually convenient time that we can agree on next week.
In the meantime, please explore the course website, and start reading! I am looking forward to meeting you all next week!
TBA
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