Political Participation Leaning Towards Activism

Political Participation leaning towards Activism: A case study of the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, among year three and graduating students of the undergraduate grouping^[a]

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Education, University of the West Indies

In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Humanities Caribbean Research Course degree of the Bachelor of Arts

By

Rebeca Diaz

Thesis Supervisor: Mr. Josh Drayton

Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of the West Indies

St. Augustine

May, 2016

ABSTRACT

This study explores the present level of political participation among the students leaning towards the realm of activism. The study’s focus is the University of the West Indies which presently celebrates 54 years of institutional autonomy. As well rounded and educated young adults, it is vital that students also actively participate in the decisions governing the institution as well as national political matters. This presumption and perception of a university student being politically active and participant was tested through historical data, wide sampling questionnaires followed by sequential focus group sessions with the St. Augustine Guild of Students in order to explore this social phenomenon. As a result of this investigation it was learnt that the implications of these findings further support the initial hypothesis which proposed that student apathy and lack of political participation among the student population reflects local popular culture.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Figures        

CHAPTER I        

INTRODUCTION        

RATIONAL        

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES        

METHODOLOGY        

CHAPTER II        

HISTORY OF POLITICAL ACTIVISM IN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES        

Late 1960’s Rise in Political Radicalism        

1970’s Black Power (the fight for student rights 1971-1983)        

1980’s The Racial Equality        

1990’s The Wave of Silence for the Attempted Coup d’état        

2000’s Student Matters        

CHAPTER III        

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION TODAY        

Students Political Self-Perceptions        

Student Political Apathy        

Student Political Alienation        

CHAPTER IV        

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AS A FUTURE PROSPECTIVE        

The Role of the Student within the University        

The Role of the Students within the Society        

The Role of the Guild of Students        

The Future Political Mobilizing Prospects of the Guild of Students UWI St. Augustine Campus.        

The Future of the University Body as a Political Mobiliser        

CHAPTER V        

Works Cited        

Appendices        

INTRODUCTION

Trinidad and Tobago is a twin island Caribbean republic situated off the northern coast of the South American mainland. Trinidad and Tobago is a multicultural country with many natural resources. Included among these are the oil and natural gas reserves upon which the economy continues to be heavily dependent. These resources have allowed the country to have one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America and the Caribbean and to attract considerable foreign direct investment. Consequently due to significant economic advances have led the island to be among the richest in the Caribbean region.

From a history of colonialism beginning with Spain then followed by Britain in 1797 becoming a British Crown colony in 1802. This led to the thriving of the sugar economy alongside with African slave imports, indentured labourers from India and a rigid caste-like stratification system thereafter started to disintegrate in the mid 1800’s because of the collapse of slavery. Trinidad and Tobago were grouped as a nation and slowly the civil society began to raise their voices for a greater local democracy and national independence through trade unions in the 1920’s. With this intension a 25 member campaign was launched to represent the country under the British Rule, however, this was a disappointment since only seven were elected. Leading to massive labour disturbances in the late 1930’s which resulted in the increase of members in the 1940’ (Teelucksing 162). Trinidad and Tobago eventually was granted independence on the 31st August 1962.

Presently this Caribbean powerhouse has demure some of its attitude since the people of this nation appear to avoid political participation beyond the conventional. This type of withdrawal greatly contrasts with Latin American countries where political demonstrations, particularly those initiated by tertiary education students who are frequently reported in the daily journals. Meanwhile at the University of the West Indies, with each matriculation larger than the previous, little to no active participation is being recorded. The intention of this research project was to investigate and to assess the factors which promote or hinder political participation by the students and to suggest explanations for this phenomenon of low political participation among third and final year undergraduate students at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies. A report on the findings will be presented to the campus' Department of Political Science as well as to the St. Augustine Guild of Students.