Politics in a Half Made Society

by Meighoo, Kirk Peter

• ISBN13: 9781558763074
• ISBN10: 1558763074
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-11-01
• Publisher: Markus Wiener Pub

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	xi
List of Tables	xii
List of Abbreviations	xiii
Acknowledgements	xvii
Introduction	xix
PRELUDE TO SELF-GOVERNMENT	1	(24)
The Establishment of Electoral Politics, 1925-53: `We are all individuals'	3	(22)
PART 1 THE LONG REIGN OF ERIC WILLIAMS, 1956-81	25	(72)
The Coming to Power of Eric Williams, 1954-62: `PNM Against The Rest'	27	(35)
`I Am Going to Let Down My Bucket Right Here': Dr Eric Williams, 1954-5	28	(7)
`The PNM Against the Rest': The Campaign of 1956	35	(9)
`Opposition for So': The Rise of the DLP, 1957-60	44	(5)
`The Bankruptcy Which I Defy': Making the PNM's Will Prevail, 1960-62	49	(13)
Politics in the Independence Period, 1962-81: `Right Back to 1956'	62	(35)
`Don't Stop the Carnival': Unconventional Politics, 1962-73	63	(16)
`Right Back to 1956': The PNM Against the Rest, 1973-81	79	(18)
PART 2 PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RECONSTRUCTION, 1981-91	97	(171)
The Fall of the PNM, 1981-6: `All Ah We Tief'	99	(21)
`What is Wrong Must Be Put Right': George Chambers and the General Elections of 1981	99	(4)
`The Fete is Over': Facing the Economic Downturn, 1982-3	103	(3)
`The Party of Parties': The Rise of the National Alliance for Reconstruction	106	(9)
`Vote Them Out, Please': The General Elections of 1986	115	(5)
The Fall of the NAR, 1987-91: `Between Good Intentions and Effective Implementation'	120	(38)
`Rough Seas': The NAR's First Nine Months	121	(10)
`Change and Exchange': The Expulsion of CLUB 88, 1987-8	131	(6)
`Prime Minister Robinson Has Been Overthrown': The Road to the Attempted Coup d'Etat, 1989-90	137	(11)
The NAR's Final Year, 1990-91	148	(10)
PART 3 TOWARD STALEMATE: STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT, INDIAN ARRIVAL, AND SLIM MAJORITIES
The Fall of the Manning Administration, 1992-95: `Father of The Nation'	158	(33)
Setting the Political Configuration of the 1990s: The PNM, UNC, and NAR	159	(4)
Structural Adjustment Under the PNM, 1992-95	163	(9)
The 1994 By-Elections: Political Openings in Trinidad	172	(2)
The Consolidation of the UNC, 1992-95	174	(3)
`Father of the Nation' and Indian Arrival: Toward the Snap Elections of 1995	177	(6)
The Campaign of 1995	183	(8)
The UNC Government, 1995-2001: `None Shall Escape Unscathed'	191	(77)
`The Government of National Unity': Consolidating the UNC Regime, 1995-97	193	(14)
The UNC `Rampant', 1997-99	207	(20)
`Judge Us by Our Performance': From the Elections of 1999 to 2000	227	(18)
`Who Want to Resign, Resign!': The Aborted Parliament, 2001	245	(23)
Conclusion	268	(10)
Impact, Implication, and Recommendations	275	(1)
Conclusion: The Ghost of Dr Williams	276	(2)
Afterword	278	(75)
Appendices
A. Chronology of Political Events, 1921-2001	292	(21)
B. Summaries of Election Results, 1925-2001	313	(19)
C. Distribution of Constituencies By Party, 1956-2001	332	(6)
D. Selected Economic Indicators, 1970-2000	338	(5)
E. The Structure of Government	343	(5)
F. Regional Distribution of Legislative Council and Parliamentary Seats, 1925-2001	348	(2)
G. List of Interviews	350	(3)
Notes	353	(64)
Bibliography	417	(23)
Index	440