How is it that most Caribbean nations are actually quite democratic, stable and prosperous?

[Tooting Carmen]

After all, according to the racial determinists, being predominantly Black nations means they are doomed to fail, and would all be just like Haiti itself. In fact, when it comes to democracy and good governance, most Caribbean countries don't fare that badly compared to much of Asia and even Europe, and likewise for general living standards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrup...ceptions_Index
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...elopment_Index

[Andullero]

After all, according to the racial determinists, being predominantly Black nations means they are doomed to fail, and would all be just like Haiti itself. In fact, when it comes to democracy and good governance, most Caribbean countries don't fare that badly compared to much of Asia and even Europe, and likewise for general living standards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrup...ceptions_Index
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...elopment_Index

Perhaps British colonialism hasn't been as bad as Marxists say? I find it ironic and puzzling though that the largest of the Anglo islands, Jamaica, happens to be the worst positioned of the group nonetheless.

[Tooting Carmen]

Perhaps British colonialism hasn't been as bad as Marxists say? I find it ironic and puzzling though that the largest of the Anglo islands, Jamaica, happens to be the worst positioned of the group nonetheless.

Jamaica has particular problems with drugs and gangs. Still, even your explanation doesn't tell the full story, since many ex-British colonies in Asia and Africa are rather poorer and more corrupt than the Caribbean countries are. Contrary to what many believe in this forum, I think culture is (1) more important than race and (2) mostly social and learnt, not biological and innate. Therefore, whatever their skin colour and genetics, Anglo-Caribbeans have with some success re-created/maintained British traditions of democracy and (relatively) good governance.

[Andullero]

Still, even your explanation doesn't tell the full story, since many ex-British colonies in Asia and Africa are rather poorer and more corrupt than the Caribbean countries are.

Yeah, but I wasn't only referring to economics here, but also the mindset, customs and juridical tradition, which is part of culture as well. Notice how Haiti have fared worst than Jamaica and Barbados despite having a similar plantation backdrop. I believe a good chunk of it is that French old regime tradition lent itself to authoritarianism and militarism, and the bloody birth of the republic also didn't help things on that score.

[Daven]

Because British former colonies always do better.

[Tooting Carmen]

Yeah, but I wasn't only referring to economics here, but also the mindset, customs and juridical tradition, which is part of culture as well. Notice how Haiti have fared worst than Jamaica and Barbados despite having a similar plantation backdrop. I believe a good chunk of it is that French old regime tradition lent itself to authoritarianism and militarism, and the bloody birth of the republic also didn't help things on that score.

Well that's my point - not all predominantly Black nations are doomed to become like Haiti. Rather, Haiti's problems are rooted in its very particular politics and history, not its racial make-up. On a general note, I do think that the Anglo-Caribbean countries, more than many other countries, do blast a lot of pieties and pre-conceptions on both the Right and the Left.

[Tutankhamun]

Well that's my point - not all predominantly Black nations are doomed to become like Haiti. Rather, Haiti's problems are rooted in its very particular politics and history, not its racial make-up. On a general note, I do think that the Anglo-Caribbean countries, more than many other countries, do blast a lot of pieties and pre-conceptions on both the Right and the Left.

The problem with Haiti is not because they are black, the problem with Haiti is that Haiti should never have existed. I thought it was an exaggeration on the part of some Dominican members, but it is true, reading more about the history of the island Hispaniola I realized this, the island Hispaniola was just to be a Spanish speaking island, if it were not the dirty finger of the French.

[RicoSuave]

They are not tho. But they have good marijuana and weather that helps relax things.

[Daven]

Hispaniola was always meant to be entirely Spanish. It was the isla de Santo Domingo starting with the colonization.

[Tooting Carmen]

They are not tho. But they have good marijuana and weather that helps relax things.

To clarify: I am not saying the Caribbean is on par with Western Europe/Japan/North America by any means. However, when compared to most other parts of the Global South, most of those countries are indeed relatively stable, prosperous and free. Apart from Grenada under Maurice Bishop, most Anglo-Caribbean nations have not had so much as one attempted coup. Even gang-ridden Jamaica doesn't remotely compare to many African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries when it comes to corruption and lack of civil liberties (apart from their obsessive homophobia).