The Politics of Labour in the British Caribbean: The Social Origins of Authoritarianism and Democracy

A study of the politics of labour in the British Caribbean. Between 1934 and 1954 a series of labour rebellions gave rise to trade unions and political parties, and led to democratic reforms, self-government, and eventually independence. The author argues that while these new institutions were ostensibly democratic, they often exhibited authoritarian tendencies that reflected the wider political culture and global context in which these "democratic-authoritarian" states emerged.