Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T17:03:31.894Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mitterrand in the Caribbean: Socialism (?) Comes to Martinique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

William F. S. Miles
William F. S. Miles*
Affiliation:
Northeastern University in Boston
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

May 10, 1981, not only ushered in a political surprise for France, as well as for its European and American allies, but sent positive shockwaves throughout that part of the Caribbean which is still French. On that date François Mitterrand came to power in the Metropole of France at the same time that the Départements d'Outre-Mer (DOM or overseas departments) of Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guiana rejected his candidacy with a unanimity as stunning as it is rare in West Indian politics. Ever since the DOM have been coping with Socialism in France, decentralization in the Caribbean, and an unprecedented antilleanization of local culture, institutions, and politics. The result has been a paradox of heightened social liberalism combined with intensified political violence; but paradox has always been at the heart of the French Antilles.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , Fall 1985 , pp. 63 - 79
Copyright
Copyright © University of Miami 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Atlaseco, (1982) Le Nouvel Observateur. Paris, France.Google Scholar
Césaire, A. (1982) Interview with author, Fort-de-France, Martinique. August.Google Scholar
France. Antilles Department. (1981) “Un Message du Nouveau Secretaire d'Etat Aux DOMTOM: ‘Je serai tres attentif á tous vos problémes.’” Fortde-France, Martinique: 26 May.Google Scholar
Information Caraibe (ICAR) (1985) Issue of 7 July. Pointeá-Pitre, GuadeloupeGoogle Scholar
Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE) (1982) Annuaire Statistique de la Martinique, 1977-1980. Pointe de Jaham, Martinique: Schoelcher University.Google Scholar
Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE) (1965) Annuaire Statistique de la Martinique, 1961-1964. Paris, France: Imprimerie Nationale.Google Scholar
La Documentation Francaise (1982) Problémes Politiques et Sociaux. Paris, France: (Based on National Intelligence Factbook (1980) put out by the Library of Congress, Washington, DC; and on The World Bank Atlas (1980) put out by the World Bank, Washington, DC.)Google Scholar
Martinique. Prefecture. (RAAPM) (1981) Recueil des Actes Administratifs de la Préfecture de la Martinique. Fort-de-France, Martinique: 15 September.Google Scholar