External Influences and Stability in the Caribbean

The Caribbean, although not entirely free from war, has been an extraordinarily peaceful part of the globe. The intensification of ideological polarity that has been demonstrated recently in Central America and Grenada could easily alter this rare tranquility, however. While the relatively small states of the Caribbean cannot threaten the US in a fundamental sense, military build-ups, for example in Nicaragua and Grenada, have been seen as a threat to Costa Rica and St Vincent, respectively. When to ideological polarity is added superpower rivalry there is more likely to be an increase rather than a reduction of instability in the region. The problem then is to grapple with the causes of instability and how they may be resolved or prevented. This chapter addresses itself to the issues of external influences and stability in the Caribbean. Although the focus is essentially on the English-speaking Caribbean, illustrations will be drawn from the experiences of what has come to be described as the Caribbean Basin as a whole. Also, in spite of a concern with external influences, it is argued that both internal and external considerations and interests make up a complex of factors which account for the stability of the region.