Democracy And Human Rights In The Caribbean

The Caribbean, like regions elsewhere, is caught in what has been called democracy’s global “Third Wave.” In this volume, contributors examine the nature of democratization in the region together with its accessory, human rights. The emphasis is to extend the analysis and debates beyond political democracy and civil and political rights to consider also economic democracy and economic and social rights. Early chapters address issues and dilemmas common to the democracy and human rights landscape throughout the region. In particular, economic crisis, drug trafficking, and political instability continue to threaten the region’s relatively healthy human rights profile. Next, contributors consider how the form of Caribbean democracy and the status of human rights have been influenced by foreign actors and external developments. Particular attention is paid to the role of the OAS, the United Nations, NGOs, and international law. Because the democracy and human rights challenges and dynamics vary across countries, the work also offers extensive single-country assessments.