France's Overseas Territories: Living Between Worlds

A comprehensive exploration of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia in the 21st Century

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Introduction: Understanding France's Overseas Territories in the 21st Century

"We are French, but not quite. We are Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Ocean peoples, but with a difference. This in-between space is where we live, where we create, where we thrive." These words from Marie-José Alie, a Martinican writer and activist, capture the complex reality of life in France's overseas territories—regions that are simultaneously integral parts of the French Republic and distinct societies with their own histories, cultures, and aspirations.