The Caribbean: An Intellectual History, 1774-2003

"Professor Benn has systematised for the first time the elements that constitute the intellectual tradition of the Caribbean from the end of the eighteenth century to the present. That tradition may be divided into two parts: an older tradition which was confined mainly to the planter class that sought to elaborate, under the Old Representative System, a political philosophy in defence of their political and economic privileges, best represented in the writings of Edward Long and Bryan Edwards. In this context, the ideological underpinnings of Crown Colony government, which succeeded the Old Representative System, are also analysed." "In the newer tradition which emerged during the nineteenth century there have been three main intellectual influences in the figures of Marcus Garvey, C. L. R. James and Eric Williams. Garvey developed the perspective based on racial consciousness as the basis of political action." "The book presents a comprehensive overview of the history of political thought in the Caribbean and is suitable for both academics and students of Political Thought and Comparative Politics."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved