Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

The tiny Caribbean island of Dominica, the newest of the Lesser Antilles, remains largely overlooked in international relations and comparative politics. This paper introduces the history, culture, and politics of the island, including the unique character and role of the Maroons, who are largely responsible for resisting colonial invaders. Engaging the experience of the pre-Columbian Kalinago inhabitants, their own agrarian knowledge, and the largely inaccessible terrain of the island, the Maroons resisted colonial invaders and established societies that became the foundation for Dominica as an independent republic. This paper further raises the question of whether the legacy of the Maroons and the remaining Kalinago can influence the more recent trends of developing Dominica into a major financial hub as a response to economic globalization. Although not a social movement, the Maroons constituted a force for change that the island still reflects, albeit under contemporary political and economic pressures. Thus the study stresses the value of Dominica as a mircocosm of many of the struggles of the Global South, and at the same time as an exception that warrants a greater focus in political science research and pedagogy. In addition to providing handouts with resources for instructors and researchers, the session includes a few very short videos, ranging from one to five minutes each, that present key aspects of Dominica’s history and culture.