This project supports the dissertation research of a cultural anthropologist studying the struggle of a dependent, Caribbean society to define its identity with respect to the dominant European society. The research will take place on Martinique, a "department" of the French nation. Using participant observation, interviewing of government officials, and studying popular culture, the student will try to understand how local Martinique bureaucrats in charge of cultural affairs define their cultural life with respect to the hegemony of France, and how ordinary people deal with the issue of their "own" nationalism and their status as French colonial citizens. This research is important because the problem of national identity is critical for ex-colonial nations in the third world. This case study of public officials and plain citizens deals with the problems of establishing a positive identity with respect to the dominant Western ex-colonial power. It can help us understand similar situations in other geographic regions. With the breakdown of the USSR empire local cultural conflicts will increase in importance, and any increase in our understanding of the sources of conflicts about cultural identity can help decision makers deal with them.
