The contemporary Caribbean: The historical and geopolitical perspective of Reinaldo Rojas (Comments, notes and reflections)

Abstract

This article, written in essay format, presents the central postulates of the conference The Caribbean: A Historical and Geopolitical Perspective by Venezuelan historian Reinaldo Rojas. This dissertation, aimed at a global and academic audience, was held virtually on March 23, 2021, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Rojas, recognized with an “Honorary Doctorate” by Yacambú University, addresses fundamental historical and geopolitical issues to understand the reality of Latin America and the Caribbean. The conference invites us to reflect on the categories of time and space, analyzing the historical impact from the precolonial period to the present. We reflect on the geographical complexity of the region, as well as the geopolitical interests that have shaped its political and cultural structures. We also observe that the territory is not only a physical space, but a social construct that reflects historical, economic and cultural dynamics.