On the Economic Level:

A symbol of Regional Integration

In the earlier half of the 20th century, there were attempts at creating organizations for economic integration. These included the West Indies Federation and Caribbean Commission. However, these agreements collapsed due to mistrust and political disagreements among the governments of the islands (Garcia 58). In later years, around 1968, more attempts at economic integration surfaced and led to the creation of CARIFTA and eventually, CARICOM (Garcia 59).

CARICOM (Caribbean Community) is still operational today. CARICOM’s main purposes are to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to coordinate foreign policy (Encyclopedia Britannica). This depicts trust among the members of this organization on a political and governmental level. In government established the CARICOM and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which would harmonize economic policy and create a single currency (Encyclopedia Britannica).  This goal, if fulfilled, would depict a high level of trust and tolerance among governments of the countries in the organization, as there would be shared benefits and cooperation among member states. The free trade in the Caribbean among the members of CARICOM also shows trust among Caribbean countries. However, disputes over trade and division of benefits arise, which are addressed by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Garcia concludes that it is the market, rather than governments, which drive the emerging process of regional integration (Garcia 68).

This concept of Regional Integration highlights a sense of a Regional Identity among the Caribbean countries. On the other hand, Garcia states that one of the factors that divide the Caribbean is the "difference between island and continental economies".  Many of the continental countries that border the rim of the Caribbean Basin define their identities not as Caribbean but as Andean (Venezuela and Colombia), Central American (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) or North American (Mexico). For these countries, the Caribbean is but a region, often marginalized (Garcia 62). This quote shows that there is a lack of a combined, Caribbean Identity on the part of the continental Caribbean countries; they seem to have a regional identity, but separate from the Caribbean.