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Chapter 3 The economics of political development: Party politics in Jamaica

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De Gruyter Handbook of Political Parties of the Global South
This chapter is in the book De Gruyter Handbook of Political Parties of the Global South

Abstract

Political parties in the Caribbean have gone through significant changes since they were first established in the 1930s. Many of the issues identified today are similar to those that captured the attention of voters during the transition towards independence, although the behavior of the electorate is markedly different than when the parties were initially formed. In Jamaica, despite advancements made in parliamentary governance, changes in voters’ preferences have been reflected by a prolonged decline in voter turnout since the 1990s. This period coincided with the ideological realignment of international politics. Despite this shrinking pool of voters, support for the two main political parties, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP), remain dominant. In the various elections held since the granting of universal adult suffrage in 1944, these parties have been in government for roughly equal terms. This dominance and the absence of viable alternatives reflect the continued disengagement of the public from electoral politics. Instead, Jamaicans have opted to migrate to secure improved economic prospects. Against this backdrop, the chapter explores how the history of Jamaica’s political development has occurred in repeated cycles of economic downturn, increased mobilization and institutional development. The chapter examines how the current international global economy makes it difficult for this cycle to be repeated and it reflects on how the parties have responded to a changing electorate.

Abstract

Political parties in the Caribbean have gone through significant changes since they were first established in the 1930s. Many of the issues identified today are similar to those that captured the attention of voters during the transition towards independence, although the behavior of the electorate is markedly different than when the parties were initially formed. In Jamaica, despite advancements made in parliamentary governance, changes in voters’ preferences have been reflected by a prolonged decline in voter turnout since the 1990s. This period coincided with the ideological realignment of international politics. Despite this shrinking pool of voters, support for the two main political parties, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP), remain dominant. In the various elections held since the granting of universal adult suffrage in 1944, these parties have been in government for roughly equal terms. This dominance and the absence of viable alternatives reflect the continued disengagement of the public from electoral politics. Instead, Jamaicans have opted to migrate to secure improved economic prospects. Against this backdrop, the chapter explores how the history of Jamaica’s political development has occurred in repeated cycles of economic downturn, increased mobilization and institutional development. The chapter examines how the current international global economy makes it difficult for this cycle to be repeated and it reflects on how the parties have responded to a changing electorate.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Dedication V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Preface to Political Parties in the Global South XI
  5. Chapter 1 Political parties. What are they and how do we study them? 1
  6. Part I: The origins of today’s political parties in the Global South
  7. Part I: The origins of today’s political parties in the Global South 27
  8. Chapter 2 The origins of contemporary political parties in Latin America (1990–2020) 37
  9. Chapter 3 The economics of political development: Party politics in Jamaica 57
  10. Chapter 4 Making sense of Arab political parties’ origins: Secular groups and nationalism 89
  11. Chapter 5 The origins of today’s political parties in Africa 119
  12. Chapter 6 The party systems of Central Asia 137
  13. Part II: Party organization and finance in the Global South
  14. Part II: Party organization and finance in the Global South 153
  15. Chapter 7 Dynamics of Islamist party trajectories in Egypt and Tunisia after the Arab Uprisings: Between ideational and structural materialist approaches 165
  16. Chapter 8 Party organization and finance in the MENA region 185
  17. Chapter 9 The price of the party: How finance shapes political organization in sub-Saharan Africa 207
  18. Chapter 10 Regime types, party politics and political finance in Southeast Asia 221
  19. Part III: The functions of parties in the Global South: State and citizen perspectives
  20. Part III: The functions of parties in the Global South: State and citizen perspectives 239
  21. Chapter 11 Political parties’ functions in Latin America: Assessing the gap between expectations and reality 249
  22. Chapter 12 The functions of parties in the MENA: The state perspective 275
  23. Chapter 13 Functions of political parties in Southeast Asia: A regime perspective 289
  24. Chapter 14 Anti-party and apartisan attitudes in Southeast Asia: On ordinary citizens, political parties and leadership 311
  25. Part IV: Parties and society
  26. Part IV: Parties and society 341
  27. Chapter 15 African political parties: A citizens’ perspective 353
  28. Chapter 16 The intersection of traditional cleavages and post-materialist values in the Middle East and North Africa 377
  29. Chapter 17 The roles and prospects of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance: Voices from the Malaysian youth 397
  30. Chapter 18 The influence of Islamists in Malaysia’s People’s Justice Party (KEADILAN) 419
  31. Conclusion and perspectives
  32. Chapter 19 Political parties: Perspectives from the Global South 439
  33. Contributors
  34. Index
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111170015-004

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Dedication V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Preface to Political Parties in the Global South XI
  5. Chapter 1 Political parties. What are they and how do we study them? 1
  6. Part I: The origins of today’s political parties in the Global South
  7. Part I: The origins of today’s political parties in the Global South 27
  8. Chapter 2 The origins of contemporary political parties in Latin America (1990–2020) 37
  9. Chapter 3 The economics of political development: Party politics in Jamaica 57
  10. Chapter 4 Making sense of Arab political parties’ origins: Secular groups and nationalism 89
  11. Chapter 5 The origins of today’s political parties in Africa 119
  12. Chapter 6 The party systems of Central Asia 137
  13. Part II: Party organization and finance in the Global South
  14. Part II: Party organization and finance in the Global South 153
  15. Chapter 7 Dynamics of Islamist party trajectories in Egypt and Tunisia after the Arab Uprisings: Between ideational and structural materialist approaches 165
  16. Chapter 8 Party organization and finance in the MENA region 185
  17. Chapter 9 The price of the party: How finance shapes political organization in sub-Saharan Africa 207
  18. Chapter 10 Regime types, party politics and political finance in Southeast Asia 221
  19. Part III: The functions of parties in the Global South: State and citizen perspectives
  20. Part III: The functions of parties in the Global South: State and citizen perspectives 239
  21. Chapter 11 Political parties’ functions in Latin America: Assessing the gap between expectations and reality 249
  22. Chapter 12 The functions of parties in the MENA: The state perspective 275
  23. Chapter 13 Functions of political parties in Southeast Asia: A regime perspective 289
  24. Chapter 14 Anti-party and apartisan attitudes in Southeast Asia: On ordinary citizens, political parties and leadership 311
  25. Part IV: Parties and society
  26. Part IV: Parties and society 341
  27. Chapter 15 African political parties: A citizens’ perspective 353
  28. Chapter 16 The intersection of traditional cleavages and post-materialist values in the Middle East and North Africa 377
  29. Chapter 17 The roles and prospects of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance: Voices from the Malaysian youth 397
  30. Chapter 18 The influence of Islamists in Malaysia’s People’s Justice Party (KEADILAN) 419
  31. Conclusion and perspectives
  32. Chapter 19 Political parties: Perspectives from the Global South 439
  33. Contributors
  34. Index
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