Public Administration and Policy in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is at a crucial phase in its development. Global and local pressures have seen the region losing its competitiveness, while it remains at risk of losing out on development gains made in the last few decades. These pressures are demanding improvements in the way government operates, particularly in its policy-making and administrative capacity. This book offers the single most comprehensive reference on public administration in the Caribbean to date, providing information on legacies, tools, and strategies that are beneficial to understanding and improving public policy.

Public Administration and Policy in the Caribbean presents contributed chapters from a host of well-placed practitioners and academics across the region and its diaspora. The collection maps the history and development of Caribbean public policy and management, discussing some of the most relevant contemporary themes and practices in a region that has received insufficient attention in research. It also considers a number of critical policy issues, some old, some new, and others yet emerging that are of significant import for successful governance and development across the region.

The book covers the lesser-known experiences of the Dutch, French, and English Caribbean, as well as Cuba and Haiti, showing the rich legacies, themes, and contemporary issues affecting the region. It begins with a history of Caribbean public administration practices and institutions from the colonial period to the present. It then offers an exposition and critical analysis of some of the current debates and issues in public administration, delving into the internal workings of the state. The book concludes with a discussion of some of the ongoing and new public policy issues and concerns in the region.

Public Administration and Policy in the Caribbean makes a solid contribution to understanding the variety of experiences, legacies, and contemporary issues in public policy and administration in small and developing states. Practitioners, researchers, consultants, and instructors should find this an invaluable resource.