Imagining the Future from a Rearview Vision

Abstract

Reflecting on the 1980s origins of negative trends in CARICOM economies, Antrobus’ analysis considers the current social outcomes of neoliberalism. These include evidence from the shredding of social safety nets as well as governmental deregulation policies that make way for profit making at the expense of vulnerable human communities and ecosystems. She argues that increasing inequality and poverty, crime, violence against women, and environmental deterioration are systemically related. Drawing on examples of activist resistance among progressive national and regional organizations she suggests that forward-thinking leadership among all sexes in a growing LGBT movement, environmental activists raising public awareness of unregulated commerce, Indigenous resilience—all point to a cultural/intellectual shift in thinking set about by a new generation working toward transformative feminist politics in the region.