"Them are thief, them are big thief": A history of corruption and anti-corruption in a small post-colonial state, from 1967 to the present

This thesis examines the history of corruption and anti-corruption in post-colonial Antigua and Barbuda, from 1967 to the present. Established scholarship on corruption in the Caribbean, mostly written by political scientists, has explained corruption as a result of flaws in constitutional systems, particularly the Westminster political system as used in small states. But through a novel historical approach, this thesis shows that political culture has consistently played an equally important role in motivating and sustaining Antiguan corruption throughout the post-colonial period. This dissertation thus denies that long-term corruption can be explained by recourse to a state's political system alone and argues that the interaction between that system and the state's political culture is key. Such consideration highlights the erstwhile-neglected roles of voter apathy, tolerance, and even public complicity in systemic corruption. Through an original conceptualisation of a three-part anti-corruption strategy, this thesis also explains why safeguards against corruption that appear effective on paper have failed in practice. This speaks to two key questions motivating this research: why has corruption remained a constant feature of Antiguan history despite an increasingly robust anti-corruption institutional context? And how have corrupt actors adapted to a heightened international focus on good governance since the 1990s?

To explore Antigua's history of corruption and anti-corruption, this thesis uses an innovative interdisciplinary approach that draws on methods and theories from political science alongside more conventional historical sources. Key arguments are illustrated with carefully chosen case studies from across the post-colonial period, revealing consistencies as well as changes in the history of corruption and anti-corruption. Some important turning points have thus been identified, as have major missed opportunities. The findings from this study should act as a springboard for further investigation into the as-yet under-researched post-colonial period of Caribbean history whilst also informing anti-corruption strategies in Antigua and beyond.