Book Reviews

Books reviewed in this article: Jorge I. Domínguez and Michael Shifter (eds.), Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America Samuel L. Baily and Eduardo José Míguez (eds.), Mass Migration to Modern Latin America Mala Htun, Sex and the State: Abortion, Divorce and the Family Under Latin American Dictatorships and Democracies Nikki Craske and Maxine Molyneux (eds.), Gender and the Politics of Rights and Democracy in Latin America William I. Robinson, Transnational Conflicts: Central America, Social Change and Globalization Martín Hopenhayn, No Apocalypse, No Integration. Modernism and Post Modernism in Latin America Rei Kimura, President Fujimori of Peru: The President Who Dared to Dream David Cahill, From Rebellion to Independence in the Andes: Soundings from Southern Peru, 1750‐1830 Gregory Weeks, The Military and Politics in Postauthoritarian Chile Alberto Spektorowski, The Origins of Argentina's Revolution of the Right Raanan Rein, Argentina, Israel and the Jews. Perón, the Eichmann capture and after Anne Fountain, José Martí and U.S. Writers Salvador A. Oropesa, The Contemporáneos Group: Rewriting Mexico in the Thirties and Forties Floyd Merrell, The Mexicans: A Sense of Culture Matthew C. Gutmann, The Romance of Democracy: Compliant Defiance in Contemporary Mexico Martha Menchaca, Recovering History, Constructing Race: the Indian, Black and White Roots of Mexican Americans Jeremy A. Sabloff (ed.), Tikal: Dynasties, Foreigners, & Affairs of State: Advancing Maya Archaeology Jan M. G. Kleinpenning, Paraguay 1515‐1870; a Thematic Geography of its Development Alicia Gaspar de Alba (ed.), Velvet Barrios: Popular Culture & Chicana/o Subjectivities Sue Branford and Bernardo Kucinski, Politics Transformed: Lula and the Workers' Party Javier Auyero, Contentious Lives. Two Argentine Women, Two Protests and the Quest for Recognition Steven Levitsky, Transforming Labor‐Based Parties in Latin America. Argentine Peronism in Comparative Perspective     

The Commonwealth Caribbean and Europe: The End of the Affair?

Abstract

The institutional relationship between the Commonwealth Caribbean and the European Union (EU) dates back to the mid-1970s, when the Lomé Convention was signed. The agreement was seen as a high water mark in First–Third World relations. However, since then the bond has come under concerted pressure. The consequence is that today the particularism that underpinned relations for so long has almost vanished and the EU is beginning to treat the Caribbean like any other relatively marginal region of the world. The article evaluates the reasons for this change, in particular: the scrapping of the trade protocols; the erosion of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) preference due to free trade agreements signed by the EU; the refocusing of EU development policy towards the least developed countries; and the split in the ACP group with the creation of an ill-designed regional Economic Partnership Agreement. The article places these changes into starker relief by assessing briefly the deepening links between the United Kingdom Overseas Territories and the EU. However, as the article highlights, this link will neither reboot nor sustain the more important Commonwealth Caribbean–EU relationship.     

Soviet works on Middle Eastern minorities

V.I. Dyamlov, ’Natsional'niye myenshinstva i natsional'naya burdzhuaziya Yegipta (pyervaya polovina XXv.)‘

Arabskiye strani: istoriya i sovryemyennosC, Arab Countries: History and Present

(Moscow: Nauka Press for the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, 1981; 248 pp.).

M.A. Rodionov's book is Maroniti: Iz etnokonfyessional'noy istorii Vostochnogo Sryedizyemnomor'ya, The Maronites: APart of the Ethno‐Confessional History of the Eastern Mediterranean (Moscow: Nauka Press for the Institute of Ethnography of the Academy

of Sciences of the Soviet Union, 1982; 136 pp.).

Z.A. Myentyeshashvili's Byerbyeri v obshchyestvyenno‐politichyeskoy dzhizni Marokko (50–70‐ye godi XX v.), The Berbers in Morocco's Socio‐political Life, the 1950s to the 1970s

(Moscow: Nauka Press for the Tiflis State University, 1985; 152 pp.).

Kurdskoye dvidzhyeniye v novoye i novyeyshye vryemya, The Kurdish Movement in Modern and Contemporary Times (Moscow: Nauka Press for the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Armenian Soviet Republic, 1987; 301 pp.)

Natsional'noye dvidzhyeniye Kurdov v Iranye (1918–1947 gg.), The National Movement of the Kurds in Iran, 1918–47 (Moscow: Nauka Press for the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, 1988; 168 pp.), by O.I. Dzhigalina

Present‐Day Asia: Ethno‐Cultural and National‐Political Processes (Moscow: Nauka Press for the Institute of Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, 1989; 173 pp.).     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed in this article: Melville, Elinor G.K. (1997), A Plague of Sheep: Environmental Consequences of the Conquest of Mexico Pérez, Louis A. Jr; (1998), The War of 1898: The United States and Cuba in History and Historiography. Topik, Steven C. and Wells, Allen (eds.) (1998), The Second Conquest of Latin America: Coffee, Henequen, and Oil during the Export Boom 1850–1930 Berke, Phillip R. and Beatley, Timothy (1997), After the hurricane: linking recovery to sustainable development in the Caribbean Randall, Stephen, J. and Mount, Graeme, S. (1998), The Caribbean Basin an international history Richard Wilson (1995), Maya Resurgence in Guatemala: Q'eqchi' Experiences Judith N. Zur (1998). Violent Memories: Mayan War Widows in Guatemala Stillwaggon Eileen (1998), Stunted Lives, Stunted Economies: Poverty, Disease and Underdevelopment Dye, Alan (1998), Cuban Sugar in the Age of Mass Production: Technology and the Economics of the Sugar Central, 1899–1929 Dominguez Jorge, I. (1997), Democratic Politics in Latin America and the Caribbean Simon, J. (1997), Endangered Mexico — An Environment on the Edge Taylor, L. (1998), Citizenship, Participation and Democracy — Changing Dynamics in Chile and Argentina Bantjes, Adrian A. (1998) As If Jesus Walked on Earth: Cardenismo, Sonora and the Mexican Revolution Cleary, Edward L. and Stewart-Gambino, Elizabeth (eds.) (1997), Power, Politics and Pentecostals in Latin America John Holloway and Eloina Peláez (eds) (1998), Zapatista! Reinventing Revolution in Mexico Marta Durán de Huerta Patiño and Massimo Boldrini (1998), Acteal: Navidad en el Inflerno Carolina Mariá de Jesus (1997), I'm Going to Have a Little House: The Second Diary of Carolina Maria de Jesus: (Casa de Alvenaria: Diario de uma ex-favelada Gordon, E. (1998), Disparate Diasporas: Identity and Politics in an African–Nicaraguan Community Tobias, Hecht (1998), At Home In The Street: Street Children of Northeast Brazil Duncan, Green (1998), Hidden Lives: Voices of Children in Latin America and the Caribbean Torres-Saillant, S. (ed.) (1997), Caribbean Poetics: Toward an Aesthetic of West Indian Literature Folgarait, Leonard (1998), Mural Painting and Social Revolution in Mexico Taylor, Chris (1998), The Beautiful Game: a Journey Through Latin American Football Wilson, Larman C. and Dent, David W. (1998), Historical Dictionary of Inter-American Organizations     

Heritage Tourism in the Caribbean: The Politics of Culture after Neoliberalism

As neoliberalism has taken root in the Caribbean, heritage tourism has grown enormously. Using examples drawn from the Trinidad Carnival, this article shows how culture becomes a marketing force in the wake of increasingly difficult economic times in the Caribbean. As selling culture increases in importance for the overall economic health of Caribbean economies, it becomes, more and more, the focus of Caribbean states and state agencies and a basis for state sovereignty. Drawing on Foucault's notion of biopower, the article draws a connection between the increasing importance of cultural performances for state revenue and government intervention into those performances.     

Moving Beyond the Policy of No Policy: Emigration from Mexico and Central America

Do Caribbean Basin states influence U.S. immigration policy? Although the terrorist attacks of September 2001 eventually derailed migration talks, before that time Mexico and the United States appeared poised to negotiate a major bilateral agreement, largely on Mexico's terms. Drawing on 88 detailed interviews conducted with Mexican and other Caribbean Basin elites, this article examines sending‐state preferences for emigration and their capacity to influence policy outcomes. The informants considered migration to be the most problematic issue on the bilateral agenda, but also saw migration policy as relatively open to source‐state influence. A case study of Mexican emigration policymaking details the national and transnational changes that make migration increasingly an inter‐mestic policy issue.     

The Repercussions of Brexit for CARICOM’s Cohesion

Abstract

Britain’s decision to leave the European Union has sent shockwaves not just within Europe but across the globe. In the Caribbean, it has heightened uncertainty about the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) ability to survive its own fissures, most recently expressed in Jamaica’s decision to review its membership of CARICOM. This article explores some of the challenges CARICOM is experiencing, in particular Jamaica’s dissatisfaction with and position within the group. It argues that despite parallels between Britain and Jamaica and their position in their respective groupings, the rationale for CARICOM is fundamentally different from that underlying the European integration experience. It concludes that CARICOM is unlikely to unfurl because the factors driving the process—small size, global marginality and common challenges—provide a strong impetus for their cohesion.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Leóns, Madeline Barbara, and Harry Sanabria, eds. Coca, Cocaine, and the Bolivian Reality. Griffith, Ivelaw Lloyd. Drugs and Security in the Caribbean: Sovereignty Under Siege. McClintock, Cynthia. Revolutionary Movements in Latin America: El Salvador's FMLN and Peru's Shining Path. Chesnut, R. Andrew. Born Again in Brazil: The Pentecostal Boom and the Pathogens of Poverty. Kirk, John M., and Peter McKenna. Canada-Cuba Relations: The Other Good Neighbor Policy. Gainesville: Randall, Stephen J., and Graeme S. Mount, with David Bright. The Caribbean Basin: An International History. Pebley, Anne R., and Luis Rosero-Bixby, eds. Demographic Diversity and Change in the Central American Isthmus. Santa Monica Taylor, Lucy. Citizenship, Participation, and Democracy: Changing Dynamics in Chile and Argentina. Leitinger, Ilse Abshagen, ed. and trans. The Costa Rican Women's Movement: A Reader. Kaplowitz, Donna Rich. Anatomy of a Failed Embargo: U.S. Sanctions Against Cuba. Pelupessy, Wim. The Limits of Economic Reform in El Salvador. Stotzky, Irwin P. Silencing The Guns in Haiti: The Promise of Deliberative Democracy. Rodríguez O., Jaime E., and Kathryn Vincent, eds. Myths, Misdeeds, and Misunderstandings: The Roots of Conflict in U.S.-Mexican Relations. Serrano, Mónica, ed. Governing Mexico: Political Parties and Elections.     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed in this article: Torres Rim, Edelberto (1993), History and Society in Central America González, Aníbal (1993), Journalism and the Development of Spanish American Narrative. Abel, Christopher and Lewis, Colin (eds) (1993), Welfare, Poverty and Development in Latin America Mesa-Lago, Camelo (ed.) (1993), Cuba After the Cold War Cardoso, Eliana and Helwege, AM (1992), Cuba after Communism Graham, Carol (1992), Peru's APIA: Parties, Politics and the Elusive Quest for Democracy Scully, Timothy R. (1992), Rethinking the Center: Party Politics in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-century Chile Hennessy, Alistair and Lambie, George (eds) (1993), The Fractured Blockade: West European-Cuban Relations During the Revolution Boué, Juan Carlos (1993), Venezuela: The Political Economy of Oil Ellner, Steve (1993), Organized Labor in Venezuela 1958–1991: Behavior and Concerns in a Democratic Setting Lalta, Stanley and Freckleton, Marie (eds) (1993), Caribbean Economic Development; The First Generation Carbonell de Masy, Rafael, with the collaboration of Teresa Blumers and Ernesto A. J. Maeder (1992, Estrategias de desarrollo rural en los pueblos guaraníes (1609–1767) Aguilar Camín, Héctor and Meyer, Lorenzo (1993), In the Shadow of the Mexican Revolution: Contemporary Mexican History 1910–1989 McFarlane, Anthony (1993), Colombia before Independence Economy, Society, and Politics under Colonial Rule Brotherston, Gordon (ed.) (1993), Latin America: Literal Territories Palmer, Gabrielle and Pierce, Donna (1993), Cambios: The Spirit of Transformation in Spanish Colonial Art Giffords, Gloria Fraser (revised ed. 1992), Mexican Folk Retablos Gossen, Gary H. (ed.) (1993), South and Meso-American Native Spirituality: From the Cult of the Feathered Serpent to the Theology of Liberation Gilbert, Alan (1994), The Latin American City Thomas-Hope, Elizabeth M. (1992) Explanation in Caribbean Migration     

The regional politics of scale: revisiting the functional aspects of the labour market dualism

This article seeks to revisit Arthur Lewis’s theory of labour market dualism, while focusing on human resource development in the form of labour productivity, to explain its usefulness in the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) contemporary policy discourses around non-economic integration in an era that is now classified as the Caribbean Educational Policy Space. The focus is on how key assumptions around labour productivity, and the lessons that can be deduced from analysing historical and contemporary policy initiatives, present plausible applicability to an expanding Caribbean single market and the proposed creation of the Caribbean single economy. In focusing on the discursive elements of labour productivity, it is contextualized that the free movement of skilled labour within CARICOM illustrates labour market dualism.     

Measuring Economic Integration in Developing Countries: The Case of Central America

This article builds a composite index, the Central American Integration Index (IIC-AMPI), to measure economic integration. This index utilises a robust methodology and conceptual framework. The study shows that IIC-AMPI is responsive to variable changes and resistant to outliers. The findings indicate that the Deep Integration Process initiative dominates the current integration trend, as seen in the regional average score from 2015 to 2017, aligning with Guatemala and Honduras. Nicaragua demonstrates the most consistent progress, while Panama lags behind. The evidence supports the Customs Union as Central America's future integration path, highlighting the index's ability to capture the dynamic reality of economic integration.     

Martinique’s Accession to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States: A New Chapter in Caribbean Regionalism?

The admission of Martinique as an associate member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States in 2015 has been seen as an event of significance in the Caribbean region for a number of reasons. Among other things, it was the first example of a non-Anglophone country being accorded that status, and it was the first French territory allowed to join one of the core regional groupings of the Commonwealth Caribbean. This article argues that the deepening of Martinique’s relationship with its neighbours within a multilateral framework may offer new practical possibilities for regional integration.     

The Implications of Brexit for the Caribbean’s Future Relationship with Britain and the EU

Abstract

The UK Brexit referendum to leave the EU has created concerns internationally, particularly for countries that have formal trade, aid and investment treaties with the EU and none with Britain alone. The notion of a Commonwealth Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a non-starter and would bring no benefits to the Caribbean. But, Britain outside the EU deprives the Caribbean of a sympathetic voice on a range of issues, including financial services, and alters the level of official development assistance that will be available from remaining EU members that have no historical relationship with the English-speaking Caribbean. The importance of the UK as a market for their goods and services make it imperative for Caribbean countries to start early ‘talks’ with London so as not to be crowded out by FTAs that the UK will conclude with countries larger and richer than the Caribbean. At the same time, Brexit provides an opportunity for the Caribbean to revisit its unsatisfactory Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU. Caribbean countries need to determine their objectives and take early initiatives to realise them.     

Book Reviews

Books Reviewed:
Lawrence G. Potter and Gary G. Sick (eds.), Security in the Persian Gulf: Origins, Obstacles, and the Search for Consensus
Bernard Hoekman and Patrick Messerlin, Harnessing Trade for Development and Growth in the Middle East
Martha Brill Olcott, Kazakhstan, Unfulfilled Promise
Bulent Gokay (ed.), The Politics of Caspian Oil
Michael P. Croissant and Bulent Aras (eds.) Oil and Geopolitics in the Caspian Sea Region
Martin Kramer, Ivory Towers On Sand: The Failure of Middle Eastern Studies in America
Thomas Baylis, How Israel was Won: A Concise History of the Arab–Israel Conflict     

Book Reviews

Book reviews in this article: Fisher, John R. (1997), The Economic Aspects of Spanish Imperialism in America, 1492–1810 Stinchcombe, Arthur L. (1995), Sugar Island Slavery in the Age of Enlightenment: The Political Economy of the Caribbean World Posada-Carbó, Eduardo (ed.) (1998), In Search of a New Order: Essays on the Politics and Society of Nineteenth-Century Latin America Richardson, Bonham, C. (1997), Economy and Environment in the Caribbean: Barbados and the Windwards in the late 1800's Hill, Jonathan D. (ed.) (1996), History, Power and Identity. Ethnogenesis in the Americas Paerregaard, Karsten (1997), Linking Separate Worlds. Urban Migrants and Rural Lives in Perti Rappaport, Joanne (1998), The Politics of Memory. Native Historical Interpretation in the Colombian Andes Coronil, Fernando (1997), The Magical State. Nature, Money, and Modernity in Venezuela López Springfield, Consuelo (ed.) (1997), Daughters of Caliban. Caribbean Women in the Twentieth Century Dore, E. (ed.) (1997), Gender Politics in Latin America: Debates in Theory and Practice Tulchin, J. and Garland, A. (eds.) (1997), Argentina – The Challenges of Modernisation Brennan, James P. (ed.) (1988), Peronism and Argentina McGuire, James W. (1997), Peronism Without Perón. Unions, Parties and Democracy in Argentina Stotzky, Irwin (1997), Silencing the Guns in Haiti: The Promise of Deliberative Democracy Kay, C. (ed.) (1997), Globalisation, Competitiveness and Human Security Vaughan, Mary Kay (1977), Cultural Politics in Revolution: Teachers, Peasants, and Schools in Mexico, 1930–1940 Moore, Robin D. (1997), Nationalizing Blackness; Afrocubanismo and Artistic Revolution in Havana, 1920–1940 Schwartz, Rosalie (1997), Pleasure Island: Tourism and Temptation in Cuba Aching, G. (1998), The Politics of Spanish American Modernismo Smith, Verity (ed.) (1997), Encyclopaedia of Latin American Literature Salman, T. (1997), The Diffident Movement: Disintegration, Ingenuity and Resistance of the Chilean Pobladores, 1973–1990 French, John D. and James, Daniel (eds) (1997), The Gendered Worlds of Latin American Women Workers: From Household and Factory to the Union Hall and Ballot Box . Lavrin, Asunción (1998), Women, Feminism, & Social Change in Argentina, Chile, & Uruguay, 1890–1940 French, J., Cowie, J. and Littlehale, L. (1994), Labor and NAFTA: A Briefing Book Bergquist, C. (1996), Labor and the Course of American Democracy: US History in Latin American Perspective Review of Electronic Sources of Information     

A never-ending story: Britain in Europe

Books reviewed in this article:
Baker, David and Seawright, David (eds.) Britain For and Against Europe. British Politics and the Question of European Integration
Buller, Jim National Statecraft and European Integration. The Conservative Government and the European Union, 1979-1997.
Eltis, Walter Britain, Europe and EMU
Ellison, James Threatening Europe. Britain and the Creation of the European Community, 1955-58
Gowland, David and Turner, Arthur Reluctant Europeans. Britain and European Integration 1945-1998
Gowland, David and Turner, Arthur Britain and European Integration 1945-1998. A Documentary History
Larres, Klaus, with Elizabeth Meehan Uneasy Allies.British-German Relations and European Integration since 1945
May, Alex Britain and Europe since 1945
Milfull, John (ed.) Britain in Europe: Prospects for Change
Young, Hugo This Blessed Plot. Britain and Europe from Churchill to Blair
Young, John W. Britain and European Unity 1945-1999     

Coming in from the Cold: Grenada and Cuba since 1983

Abstract

The Grenada Revolution’s radical course was stamped by the bold turn to Cuba in April 1979. Cuban commitment to Maurice Bishop’s regime was crucial to its consolidation. In 1983 counter-revolution and invasion ruptured Grenada–Cuba ties and damaged Havana’s relations with Caribbean Community states. Since the demise of the Cold War, Havana’s survival strategy has prioritised regional integration and cooperation in the Americas. In the Anglophone Caribbean, Grenada has been at the centre of this rapprochement since 1993. Despite Washington’s disapproval, Grenada champions expanded ties with socialist Cuba. The rekindled alliance brings tangible mutual benefits and validates the strategy of South–South cooperation advocated by Maurice Bishop’s People’s Revolutionary Government and New Jewel Movement.     

The Nature and Resource Field of the Kurdish Resistance in Turkey: A Dormant Resource

Saudi Arabia is A.M. Vasil'yev's Istoriya Saudovskoy Aravii (1745–1973), History of Saudi Arabia, 1745–1973 (Moscow, Nauka Press for the Institute of Orientalism of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, 1982; 613 pp.)

Puritanye Islama? Vahhabizm i pyervoye gosudarstvo Sauditov v Aravii (1744/45–1818), The Puritans of Islam? Wahhabism and the First Government of the Saudis in Arabia, 1744/45 to 1818 (Moscow, Nauka Press, 1967; 264 pp.).

I.I. Proshin's Saudovskaya Araviya. Istoriko‐Ekonomichyeskiy ochyerk, Saudi Arabia: An Historical‐Economic Essay (Moscow, Nauka Press for the Institute of the Peoples of Asia of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, 1964; 303 pp.)

V.V. Ozoling's Ekonomika Saudovskoy Aravii, The Economy of Saudi Arabia (Moscow, Nauka Press for the Institute of Orientalism of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, 1975; 208 pp.)

V.L. Bodyanskiy and M.S. Lazaryev's Saudovskaya Araviya poslyeSauda. Osnovniye tyendyentsii vnyeshneypolitiki (1964–1966 gg.), Saudi Arabia After Saud: Basic Tendencies of Foreign Policies, 1964–66 (Moscow, Nauka Press, 1967; 116 pp.)

L.V. Val'kova's Saudovskaya Araviya v myedzhunarodnikh otnoshyeniyakh,Saudi Arabia in International Relations (Moscow, Nauka Press for the Institute of Orientalism of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, 1979; 224 pp.)

O. Gyerasimov's Saudovskaya Araviya, Saudi Arabia (Mos cow, Misl’ Press, 1977; 72 pp.) and Saudovskaya Araviya (Spravochnik), Saudi Arabia; A Handbook (Moscow, Nauka Press, 1980; 272 pp.)

Yakub Yusef Abdallah's Obyedinyenniye Arabskiye Emirati: Istoriya politiko‐gosudarstvyennogo razvitiya (xix v.‐nachalo 70‐ye godov xx v.), The United Arab Emirates: The History of Political‐Governmental Development (19th century to the early 1970s) (Moscow, Nauka Press for the Lumumba University, 1978; 152 pp.)

R.V. Klyekovskiy and V.A. Lutskyevich, is entitled Obyedinyenniye Arabskiye Emirati, The United Arab Emirates (Moscow, Misl’ Press, 1979; 159 pp.

‘Socio‐Economic Problems of Developing Countries’, which also includes a book by L. Zvyeryeva, entitled Kuveyt, Kuwait (Moscow, Misl’ Press, 1964; 112 pp.)

V.L. Bodyanskiy's Sovryemyenniy Kuveyt (spravochnik), Contemporary Kuwait: A Handbook (Moscow, Nauka Press for the Institute of Orientalism of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, 1971; 328 pp.)     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed in this article:
Charles Bergquist, Ricardo Peñaranda, and G. Gonzalo Sánchez (eds.), Violence in Colombia 1990––2000. Waging War and Negotiating Peace
H. Kline, State Building and Conflict Resolution in Colombia, 1986–1994
N. Richani, Systems of Violence. The Political Economy of War and Peace in Colombia
Maxwell A. Cameron, and Brian W. Tomlin, The Making of NAFTA: How the Deal Was Done
Ben Fallaw, Cárdenas Compromised: The Failure of Reform in Postrevolutionary Yucatán
Aníbal González, Killer Books: Writing, Violence, and Ethics in Modern Spanish American Narrative
Valerie Boyle (ed.), A South American Adventure: Letters from George Reid, 1867–1870
Caroline Salvin, A Pocket Eden. Guatemalan Journals 1873–1874/Un paraíso. Diarios guatemaltecos 1873–1874     

An Unravelling Development Strategy? Garment Assembly in the Caribbean Basin after the Multifibre Arrangement

The purpose of this article is to assess the likely impact of the ending of the Multifibre Arrangement (MFA) on garment assembly in the Caribbean Basin. Over the last fifteen years or so garment assembly has come to represent one of the region's few economic ‘success stories’ and has accordingly helped to offset the loss of export revenue from traditional commodities such as coffee and sugar. With the ending of the MFA on 1 January 2005, however, the long‐term viability of this trade has been thrown into doubt. This article thus seeks to assess the prospects for continued garment assembly in the Caribbean Basin against the backdrop of these developments.