
Politics in an Island State
Wills O. Isaacs and Jamaica's Struggle for Development
Diane Austin-Broos(Author)
University of the West Indies Press
Published on 31. August 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
474 pages
978-976-640-959-3 (ISBN)
Description
During the decades of the mid-twentieth century, Wills O. Isaacs was a prominent member of the People's National Party. He was then, and remains, one of Jamaica's most controversial figures; beloved by many and reviled by some both within and beyond his party. Isaacs joined the People's National Party soon after its official launch in 1938. Quickly he became a leading nationalist, and a strategist within the PNP. Isaacs' early work was in union organization and in building local constituency groups, including one intended to attract the commercial class. Another, formed in downtown Mathews Lane, brought him notoriety. In later years, Group 69 was sometimes seen as a precursor to Kingston's garrisons and the wars between constituencies allied to one or the other major party. Isaacs' first elected position was on the KSAC council where he served from 1943 to 1954. Elected to parliament in 1949, he held a Central Kingston seat until 1967. In that year, he was elected to the rural constituency of St Ann North East and re-elected in 1972.
Throughout his career, Isaacs was a nationalist and a social democrat who identified as a socialist. As a champion of the unemployed and the racially vilified, he condemned capitalism's social failures. He also condemned the market failures involved in cartels and private monopolies. Consequently, he supported some nationalization, especially of Jamaica's central services. Yet, he did not foreclose on capitalism and looked for a detente between classes. His main target was totalitarianism, both of the right and the left, and of the various nineteenth and twentieth century imperialisms. Isaacs' nationalist ire was raised equally by British treatment of African peoples of the trans-Atlantic, and by the fate of Europeans overwhelmed in turn by Nazi Germany and Stalin's Russia. He described the path of the PNP as one between "the red shirts" and "the black shirts".
Throughout his career, Isaacs was a nationalist and a social democrat who identified as a socialist. As a champion of the unemployed and the racially vilified, he condemned capitalism's social failures. He also condemned the market failures involved in cartels and private monopolies. Consequently, he supported some nationalization, especially of Jamaica's central services. Yet, he did not foreclose on capitalism and looked for a detente between classes. His main target was totalitarianism, both of the right and the left, and of the various nineteenth and twentieth century imperialisms. Isaacs' nationalist ire was raised equally by British treatment of African peoples of the trans-Atlantic, and by the fate of Europeans overwhelmed in turn by Nazi Germany and Stalin's Russia. He described the path of the PNP as one between "the red shirts" and "the black shirts".
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Kingston
Jamaica
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
763 gr
ISBN-13
978-976-640-959-3 (9789766409593)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Diane Austin-Broos is professor emerita of anthropology at the University of Sydney, and an elected fellow of Australia's Social Science Academy and of the Royal Society of New South Wales. Her research addresses both Jamaica and Central Australia focusing on economy and change, and women and religion. Her publications include Urban Life in Kingston Jamaica (1984; 2018); A Different Inequality (2012); Arrernte Present, Arrernte Past (2009) and Jamaica Genesis (1997).
Content
CONTENTS
Illustrations
A Note on Sources
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Preface
Introduction
THE EARLY YEARS
A Political Awakening
Becoming an Activist
FIGHTING FOR THE PARTY
In the KSAC Council
In the Streets and Lanes
MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Assuming Government
Promoting Development
Cartels and Monopolies
FACING FEDERATION
Warning Signs
The Hard Work of Politics
Referendum and Electoral Defeat
THE LATER YEARS
The Policy Conundrum
Generational Change
Letters from Canada
Conclusion
Appendix - Wills Isaacs Speaks his Mind
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index
Illustrations
A Note on Sources
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Preface
Introduction
THE EARLY YEARS
A Political Awakening
Becoming an Activist
FIGHTING FOR THE PARTY
In the KSAC Council
In the Streets and Lanes
MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Assuming Government
Promoting Development
Cartels and Monopolies
FACING FEDERATION
Warning Signs
The Hard Work of Politics
Referendum and Electoral Defeat
THE LATER YEARS
The Policy Conundrum
Generational Change
Letters from Canada
Conclusion
Appendix - Wills Isaacs Speaks his Mind
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index