From Colonialism to Heterarchy: New Power Dynamics in the Caribbean

Abstract

The Caribbean landscape is intertwined with threads of resilience, cultural richness, and a complex history marked by colonialism. The legacies of European domination continue to cast long shadows, shaping power structures and social relations across the region. Postcolonial scholarship has illuminated the enduring impact of colonialism on power dynamics, economies, and cultural identities (Parashar, & Schulz, 2021; Said, 1978; Anzaldúa, 1987). Colonial administrations established centralized control, privileging European elites, and marginalizing Indigenous and African populations. These hierarchies continue to influence land ownership patterns, political structures, and even social interactions in many Caribbean nations (Beckles, 2000; Ramjit, 2019). Heterarchy offers a compelling alternative to these entrenched power structures. Defined by anthropologists like Descola (2001) as a system that prioritizes collaboration and distributed power, heterarchy challenges the notion of a single, dominant authority.