In the broadest terms, our objective is to introduce students to the full range of Caribbean societies and cultures, then attempt to make historical and sociological sense of the region as a whole.  We will examine common patterns of socio-economic and cultural adaptations beneath the outward diversity of the region. Following an introductory overview, Part 1 examines the historical sociology of the area.  The second part of the course examines the range and variations of Caribbean societies through case studies of four countries–Puerto Rico, Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti– and several major issues common to all societies of the region.  In Part 3 we explore the cultural responses to, and expressions of, the social and historical context previously examined, through case studies of religion and music.  A major theme will be the global context of Caribbean societies, and throughout the course we will use the region to illustrate the costs and benefits of globalization for Third World societies, especially ones under the all-powerful umbrella of America.