Multiple Stresses in a Globalized World: Livelihood Vulnerability Amongst Carib Communities in Northeastern St Vincent

Abstract

The concepts of double exposure and multiple stresses have become increasingly important in research that focuses on the vulnerability of livelihoods. The double impact of climate change and economic globalization on rural livelihood provides a valuable framework for understanding the vulnerability of rural households in northeastern St Vincent. This study, which forms part of a wider dissertation, utilized a mixed-methods approach, which consisted of 311 questionnaires, 70 semi-structured interviews with farmers, elite interviews, and focus group discussions. The study explains the vulnerability of rural households, recognizing that livelihood vulnerability is a key driver of poverty within the communities. It assesses the vulnerability of rural livelihoods to environmental change and globalization, while recognizing that there are other stresses faced by these households. This multiple exposure creates a form of powerlessness amongst households and functions to keep them in a vicious cycle of vulnerability.