SAINTS Spatial identities of the citizens of Saint Helena Master’s thesis Human Geography University of Utrecht – the Netherlands By Maarten Hogenstijn Daniël van Middelkoop 1 SAINTS: SPATIAL IDENTITIES OF THE CITIZENS OF SAINT HELENA TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.1 Where? ............................................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Why? ............................................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Central question .............................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 2 Theoretical framework ............................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Insularity ......................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Insularity and economy .............................................................................................................. 8 2.1.2 Insularity and peripherality......................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3 Insularity and social structure................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Scale.............................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2.1 Hierarchy of scales ................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2 Scale as size, level and relation ................................................................................................ 13 2.3 Spatial identity .............................................................................................................................. 14 2.3.1 Social identity........................................................................................................................... 14 2.3.2 Territorialisation of identity ..................................................................................................... 15 2.3.3 Scale and spatial identities........................................................................................................ 15 2.3.4 National identity....................................................................................................................... 17 2.3.5 Home ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Part I: Saint Helena now .................................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 3 Saint Helena in the wider world ............................................................................................... 22 3.1 The historical position of Saint Helena ......................................................................................... 22 3.1.1 Discovery and early exploration............................................................................................... 22 3.1.2 East India Company ................................................................................................................. 23 3.1.3 Napoleon Bonaparte ................................................................................................................. 26 3.1.4 Crown dependency................................................................................................................... 28 3.1.5 Conclusion................................................................................................................................ 32 3.2 Saint Helena’s current political position ....................................................................................... 32 3.2.1 The last colonies....................................................................................................................... 33 3.2.2 Colonial Saint Helena............................................................................................................... 35 3.3 Saint Helena’s economic place in the wider world ....................................................................... 36 3.3.1 Historical legacy....................................................................................................................... 37 3.3.2 Aid recipient............................................................................................................................. 39 3.3.3 Contributions to the global economy........................................................................................ 40 3.3.4 MIRAB..................................................................................................................................... 45 3.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 4 Saint Helena Island................................................................................................................... 49 4.1 Landscape...................................................................................................................................... 49 4.1.1 Geology .................................................................................................................................... 49 4.1.2 Physical Geography.................................................................................................................. 50 4.1.3 Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 51 4.1.4 Flora ......................................................................................................................................... 52 4.1.5 Fauna ........................................................................................................................................ 53 4.1.6 Land(scape) as resource ........................................................................................................... 54 4.2 Population ..................................................................................................................................... 58 4.3 Social structure.............................................................................................................................. 61 4.3.1 Personal experience.................................................................................................................. 61 4.3.2 Family life ................................................................................................................................ 63 2 4.3.3 Religion .................................................................................................................................... 66 4.3.4 Education.................................................................................................................................. 67 4.3.5 Other social issues.................................................................................................................... 70 4.3.6 Resourcefulness vs. dependency .............................................................................................. 72 4.4 Local economic structure .............................................................................................................. 73 4.4.1 Large percentage of the workforce offshore............................................................................. 74 4.4.2 Large public sector, small private sector .................................................................................. 78 4.4.3 Small market............................................................................................................................. 80 4.4.4 Lack of commercial bank ......................................................................................................... 81 4.4.5 Lack of entrepreneurship.......................................................................................................... 82 4.4.6 Conclusion................................................................................................................................ 83 4.5 Political structure .......................................................................................................................... 83 4.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 85 Chapter 5 Regional differentiation............................................................................................................ 87 5.1 Town and country ......................................................................................................................... 87 5.2 Districts ......................................................................................................................................... 88 5.2.1 Jamestown ................................................................................................................................ 89 5.2.2 Half Tree Hollow.....................................................................................................................