The Mechanics of Independence: Patterns of Political and Economic Transformation in Trinidad and Tobago

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If any doubt still remains, the story of Trinidad and Tobago will dispel the last illusion that money and technical assistance alone can launch a new nation in the world community. The Mechanics of Independence probes the interplay of political and social factors on national development with both commitment and detachment. The author, who is President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is also a political scientist whose perceptions have been sharpened by the demands of his office. As a background for economic reforms and a new constitution, the author traces the political development of the colony under Spanish and British imperial rule, discussing the origin and evolution of the idea that led to the rise of nationalism. Valuable and practical information, supported by charts and statistics, explains how Trinidad and Tobago devised measures to cope with a legacy of economic problems, the tax structure, monetary policy, and international trade following its independence from Great Britain in 1962. The text is a compelling portrait of developmental efforts and a case study of the economic, cultural, and political problems that developing nations faced during the twentieth century and provides historical background for those nations who are facing the mounting challenges inherent in globalization. Originally published in 1971 by the Massasuchetss Institute of Technology Press, this seminal work is as timely today as when it was first published.