This paper argues that the right to vote, though fundamental to democracy, has not been sufficiently appreciated as a major explanation of contitutional, social, economic, adn democratic advancement in Jamaica and the English-speacking Caribbean, It provides a new interpretation of existing literature to show that universal adults suffrage should be regarded as an important explanation for the consolidation of democracy in the Caribbean and that many current reforms in Jamaica arise from the associated conditions that would make the right to vote more meaningful, thereby advancing democracy further.Este documento sostiene que el derecho a votar, aunque fundamental para la democracia, no ha sido apreciado lo suficiente como una respuesta principal al avance contitucional, social, económico y democrático en Jamaica y el caribe anglo-parlante. Este documento proporciona una nueva interpretaciona una nueva interpretación de la literatura existente, para demostrar que el sufragio universal de adultos debría ser considerado como una respuesta importante para la consolidación de la democracia en el caribe, y de que muchas reforms actuales en Jamaica surgen de las condiciones asociadas que harían el derecho a votar, más relevante y así perfeccionar aún más la democracia. Le présent article postule que le droit de vot, bien que fondamentale pour la démocratie, n'est pas suffisamment reconnu comme étant l'une des principales raisons du progrés constitutionnel, social, économique qu'ont subis la Jamaëque en particulier et la Caraïbe anglophone en général. Il fournit une nouvelle explication pour la littérature existante afin de montrer que le droit de vote devrait être considéré comme étant une importante explication de la démocratie dans la Caraïbe et qu'une grande partie des réformes en Jamaëque émanent des conditions accompagnantes qui rendraient le droit de vote plus important et, par conséquent, capable de pousser la démocratie encore plus loin.
Social and Economic Studies (ISSN 0037-7651) is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal that has been published continuously since 1953. Produced by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES), it features articles reflecting current academic research of a developmental nature on a wide range of issues in the Caribbean, Latin America and the rest of the Global South. SES is multi-disciplinary in orientation and publishes articles and research on agricultural, anthropological, demographic, economic, educational, monetary, political, cultural and sociological questions with a view to analyzing and discussing the problems of less developed countries, particularly those in the Caribbean. Our intended audience would consist of academics, policy-makers and informed members of the general public. For more information about the journal, please visit: http://sesjournaluwi.blogspot.com
The mission of the The Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) is to undertake high-quality research and graduate teaching in the areas of social and economic development policy, governance and public policy with special reference to small developing countries.
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