Partyism and polarisation: A history of Antiguan political culture, 1967-1976

This study offers a cultural history of Antiguan politics between 1967 and 1976. It demonstrates the emergence of Antiguan party politics and explores its early impact on society and culture. The dissertation does this by focusing on four key events in Antigua’s recent past: the 1967 schism in the labour movement, civil unrest and political convulsion in 1968, and the General Elections of 1971 and 1976. Each of these events testifies to the development of a culture of ‘partyism’ - a political ideology that prioritises the survival and empowerment of one’s political party over any other principle or objective. In line with partyism, party membership became a defining feature of one’s identity within the Antiguan community, eclipsing other sources of identity such as class. This precipitated a process of societal polarisation whereby Antiguan society became sharply divided along party lines. This division was characterised by distrust between members of the opposing parties, hostility, and extreme political rhetoric. This in turn contributed to a process of pernicious polarisation whereby partyism reached such extremes that it resulted in a breakdown in good governance and long-term dislocation in Antiguan society. Many of the features and consequences of pernicious polarisation are apparent in Antigua today, making this study of importance to any with an interest in Antiguan politics and society. This project draws upon and contributes to scholarship on political polarisation and the social cost of politics. In particular, this case study of Antigua provides insight into how theories of politics and society apply, or do not apply, to very small states and postcolonial societies. Both smallness and postcolonialism loom large in this dissertation, and the project touches on substantial historical debates such as the appropriateness of the Westminster System in postcolonial states and the functioning of democracy in very small polities.