Category: Culture, History, Politics

Cold War In A Hot Zone

The United States Confronts Labor and Independence Struggles in the British West Indies
Author
Gerald Horne
Publication
2007
Page Count
272 pages, Hardcover

Reviews

Daniel R. Libby
Friday, July 3, 2020

This is the story of labour in the colonies of the West Indies. Gaining independence from Great Britain, and dealing with increasing American influence, while the shadow of the Soviet Union looms large.

Told through descriptive profiles of union figureheads, and events, particularly involving the Caribbean Labour Congress. Although the big population centres like Jamaica, Trinidad-Tobago, and British Guiana get the most attention, some of the most interesting stories are in the smaller island nations, like St. Kitts and Grenada.

This book is an interesting look back at history, national allegiances, competing politics and division. Although the events detailed occurred in the early-to-mid 20th century, I am left wondering about the latter half of the century. I await the sequel.