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The Culture of Fear in Curaçao: Shackles of fear and silence; a cultural paradox

by Valdemar Marcha and Paul Verweel

146 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #08-0470; ISBN 1-4251-7581-3; US$14.98, C$14.98, EUR10.23, £7.73

The Curaçaoan does not speak his mind for fear of reprisal, prefers to comment on matters when the other is out of earshot and to arrange his affairs in a roundabout way.

About the Book

Those who would like to understand the Curaçaoan society need to have an open mind not only for the people and the vitality that is so typical of that society, but also for what the people of Curaçao call the ‘Wall of Friendliness’. For centuries being silent was a weapon to defend one’s own identity against the influence and interference of the Dutch oppressors.

However, nowadays this weapon seems to have the opposite effect: it hinders the Curaçaoan people to be free on their own island. The Curaçaoan does not speak his mind for fear of reprisal, prefers to comment on matters when the other is out of earshot and to arrange his affairs in a roundabout way.

As this ‘culture of fear’ had hardly been researched, the authors decided to explore the concept. Apart from theoretical research, they also did field research: they spoke with a diversity of people about their experiences with and their opinions about the presence of a culture of fear on Curaçao. This has resulted in a picture of an island full of opposites: force and vulnerability, humor and gloominess, hope and despair.

Valdemar Marcha:

Gained his degree in civil engineering at the H.T.S. in Tilburg (1965) and primary education mathematics on Curaçao (1968). He subsequently studied in New York at Columbia University where he obstained his ‘Master of Science’ (1972) and ‘Doctor of Engineering Science’ (1975). He was employed at A.L.M in the years 1976-1983 as VP Marketing and later VP Finance. In that time he was also a part-time lecturer at the University of the Netherlands Antilles where he became later a full-time lecturer in the Faculty of Social and Economic Scienes since 1983. From 1987 to 1993 he was rector-magnificus of the University of the Netherlands Antilles and in 2001 he was appointed as Professor on the Special Chair of Social Cohesion and Multiculturality at the University of Utrecht (The Netherlands). Amongst others, he has published about good governance, on the cultural differences between the Netherlands and Belgium and the future of the Antilles.

Paul Verweel:

Is professor in Organization and Management from a Multicultural Perspective at the Utrecht School of Governance, Utrecht University, the Netherlands. He has published widely on topics such as diversity in organizations, mergers, strategic management, organizational culture and the construction of meaning in sport organizations.