Elections, violence, and the democratic process in Jamaica, 1944-2007 / Amanda Sives.

Based on the author's thesis (doctoral)--University of Bradford.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 213-224) and index.

The origins of partisan political violence -- Partisan political violence and party consolidation -- The arrival of the garrison : partisan political violence in the 1960s -- The Manley governments, 1972-1980 -- The decline of partisan political violence -- Politics mash up the community : politics, violence and peace at the community level.

"Since the achievement of adult suffrage in 1944, Jamaican democracy has remained resilient. Fifteen general elections have been held; the results have been accepted by the contending parties and the democratic process has survived. Within the wider Latin American and Caribbean region, Jamaica has been a stable, functioning democracy, but it has faced a number of significant challenges. In this book, Amanda Sives examines one of those key difficulties: the relationship between politics and violence in the former British colony involving supporters of the two main rival political parties, the Jamaican Labour Party and the People's National Party. Unlike other countries within the region, it has occurred within the confines of the democratic process and sought to influence the electoral outcome rather than overthrow the state. Tracing the rise and decline of partisan political violence, through an examination of elections since 1944, Sives argues that these dynamics can only be understood within a specific historical framework. Election, Violence and the Democratic Process in Jamaica posits that partisan political violence is not simply a fight for scarce benefits but needs to be understood as part of political identity formation and political culture. Sives concludes that while the reformed electoral process provides an example of best practice for other developing countries, until the peculiar Jamaican problem of party-controlled garrisons is addressed, the democratic process will remain flawed."--Back cover.

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