The Society for Caribbean Studies

About the Society

Althea McNish, 'Hurricane', dyes on cotton velvet, 1990 from 'Caribbean Connection 2', Islington Arts Factory, 13 September - 11 October 1996 © Althea McNish 1996.

The Society for Caribbean Studies thanks the artist for permission to reproduce the work here.

The aims of the Society are to encourage education and research about the Caribbean and to provide some opportunity for mutual contact among those concerned with the region and its diasporas.

Every year since 1977, the Society has held a conference, attracting participants from the Caribbean, Europe, Canada and the United States. It features exhibitions by the major publishers and the smaller presses and bookshops specialising in the region. Several publishers are members of the Society and members have contributed to the upsurge in publications on the region. Further information on the annual conference can be found here.

The Society is a member of the UKCASA (United Kingdom Council of Area Studies Associations) and collaborates with all United Kingdom Centres of Caribbean Studies in encouraging interest in the region. However, in order to solidify its base, in 1998 the Executive Committee took the decision to locate the administrative office of the Society at the Centre for Caribbean Studies, University of Warwick. The Secretary of the Centre is also the Administrative and Membership Secretary for the Society and the Society and the Centre collaborate with regard to events and conferences.

Past and Present Chairs of the Society for Caribbean Studies

2006–2010 David Howard
2005–2006 Diana Paton
2004–2005 Mimi Sheller
2003–2004 Diana Paton
2000–2002 Sandra Courtman
1999–2000 Philip Nanton
1997–1999 Rosemary Mallet
1995–1997 Paul Sutton
1993–1995 Jean Stubbs
1991–1993 David Nicholls
1989–1991 Janet Momsen
1987–1989 Jean Besson
1984–1987 Peter Fraser
1983–1985 Gad Heuman
1982–1983 Elizabeth Thomas-Hope
1979–1981 Colin Clarke
1977–1979 David Lowenthal

Honorary Members of the Society

2010 Jean Besson
2004 Colin Clarke
1989 Richard Hart
1989 David Lowenthal