20
UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER, 2015
Winston Dookeran
in Crisis and Promises in the
Caribbean, Politics of Convergence, encapsulates his
life-long experience and deeply reflective thoughts
as philosopher, strategist, politician and genuine
solution leader. This book reflects the author’s multi-
dimensional and interdisciplinary mindset dealing
with such diverse yet interrelated fields as politics,
economics and diplomacy in the context of a turbulent
local, regional and global environment. Crisis and
Promises in the Caribbean is about assessing the
recent past, understanding the turbulent present and
providing a pathway to the future of the Caribbean.
I have had the privilege of knowing Dookeran for
over 20 years and working with him closely for the
last ten years. I can attest that the content of this book
also reflects his core values, deep insights and I believe
that this book is not just an academic exercise but a
testament to his unwavering belief in the goodness of
human nature. He firmly believes in the future of the
nations of the Caribbean to achieve their rightful place
in the international fora of the world.
The book is based on the many presentations
to conferences in the author’s capacity as Governor
of the Central Bank, Finance Minister and Foreign
Affairs Minister of Trinidad & Tobago. It is also the
continuation and evolution of his thoughts as expressed
in two previous books: Leadership and Governance of
Small States: Getting Development Right (Dookeran
&Malaki, 2008) and Power Politics and Performance:
A Partnership Approach for Development (Dookeran
& Jantzen, 2012).
Crisis and Promises is in three parts (with a
total of 15 chapters): “New Politics: A Democratic
Society,” “Inclusive Development: Sustainable Growth,”
and “Caribbean Convergence: Integration without
Borders.”
In the four chapters of Part I, “New Politics: A
Democratic Society,” the author challenges societal
leaders to question the old political assumptions and
build the foundations for a new democratic societal
order. Chapter 1, “The Old Politics” exposes the
shortcomings of a political system that continues to
thrive on that which divides rather than that which
unites. Dookeran stresses the need for an idea-based
party that puts ‘country first.’ Chapter 2, “The New
Leadership” speaks to the new political leadership
requiring politicians to have both a philosophical
and strategic mindset when developing an idea-
based party. Chapter 3, “The New Role of the State”
advocates building a nation from the bottom up,
from a community-based democratic infrastructure
connected to central authorities through transformed
BOOK REVIEW
local government. This demands devolution of
authority and resources from central government.
Chapter 4, “Towards True Democracy” explores
specific political, electoral and constitutional reforms.
The five chapters of Part II, Inclusive Development:
Sustainable Growth, take a political economy
perspective. As a developmental economist by training,
in Chapter 5, “Political Economy of Development,”
Dookeran examines international models of economic
development (Nordic/European, East Asian and
Pacific, Transitional Economies, African, Latin
American and the Caribbean and Middle East and
North Africa). He highlights critical departures from
current economic strategies and recognizes that stable
politics promotes economic development.
In Chapter 6, “Synchronizing the Logic of Politics
and Economics,” the author explores the interplay
between economics, law and politics; he states that if
politics and economics are inseparable, then politics
without economics is disastrous. He reinforces the
‘third way’ philosophy with the understanding that the
right policies will determine the right outcomes and
that realizing the growth potential of a society requires
closing the gaps in social equity.
Chapter 7, “Addressing Inequality,” deals with
the social dimensions of development by focusing
on the inequalities related to poverty and issues of
income distribution.The author explores the troubling
question why despite rapid growth many developing
countries have not seen the overall benefit to society.
Chapter 8, “Financing Development,” addresses
the challenge of the ability to pay for development
– financing development through government
spending and borrowing. The author identifies key
strategies to protect and stimulate the economy
to improve competitiveness of the key financial
institutions. This includes the development of
private-public partnerships and forward looking
public policies. Chapter 9, “Drilling Down for
Development,” continues the theme of reform and
public institutional transformation urging a ‘drilling
down for development’ focus on public policy and
pension reform. For small island developing states
(SIDS), growthmust not only be transformational but
must be endogenous.
The six chapters of Part III, “Caribbean
Convergence: Integration without Border,” shift
the focus from individual country development
to Caribbean development in the context of the
global environment. In Chapter 10, “The Caribbean
Integration of Yesteryear,” the author provides
a historical perspective on the early attempts of
Manfred Jantzen, PhD, is Director of Dissertation Research, at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, The UWI.
ADookeranwithout Borders
B Y M A N F R E D J A N T Z E N
Dr Manfred Jantzen reviews Crisis and Promises in the
Caribbean: Politics and Convergence, at the launch on
September 15, 2015.
“the content of this book
also reflects his core
values, deep insights and
I believe that this book
is not just an academic
exercise but a testament
to his unwavering
belief in the goodness of
human nature.”
