No Man's Land: A Political Introspection of St. Lucia

by Anderson Reynolds

In No Man’s Land, economist and award-winning Caribbean author, Dr. Anderson Reynolds, dissects St. Lucian politics and society to pinpoint what is wrong with the country’s political system and how to fix it. It speaks to the hold history has on the country, and how race, partisanship, provincialism, and opportunism cloud the political process. It is a meditation on issues of patrimony, sovereignty, nationhood, corruption, and political empowerment. “An informative, well-researched and artfully crafted work by a master in his field...Arguably St. Lucia's most prominent writer at this time...Digs deep into the meat of St. Lucia’s political system...highly recommended for political front liners, academics, students and all interested in understanding and willing to help shape and re-shape the Caribbean and its attendant institutions.” —Modeste Downes, author of A Lesson on Wings, Theatre of the mind, & Phases “Awesome … profound, informative and thought-provoking.” —Dr. James Fletcher, author of Governing in a Small Caribbean Island State “No Man’s Land represents a substantial contribution to the public debate and further cements the author’s place as a serious and thoughtful public intellectual.” —Dr. Prosper Raynold, economics professor, Miami University of Ohio “In Dr. Reynolds St. Lucia has produced another writer of the calibre, or of even deeper essence than Nobel Laureate V. S. Naipaul.” —Peter Lansiquot, CARICOM economist and diplomat

246 pages, Paperback

Published January 18, 2021

About the author

ANDERSON REYNOLDS was born and raised in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, where he now resides. He holds a Ph.D. in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida and is the author of several national (St. Lucia) award-winning and best-selling books.

His books, blogs, lectures, and newspaper and magazine articles have established him as one of St. Lucia’s leading public intellectuals and a foremost authority on its socioeconomic history.

His writings, be it fiction or nonfiction, have been described as a world in which a great drama unfolds. where history, geography, nature, culture, the supernatural, and socioeconomic factors all combine to seal the fate of individuals, communities, or, for that matter, a whole nation or civilization. In this crucible of a world, readers are provided with deep insights into where St. Lucians come from, who they are as a people, and how they became who they are.

Reviews

[Modeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my assessment of this book, it is clear that the writer has put in considerable effort into research and thus what emerges is an authoritative commentary on the dynamics of partisan politics and governance. It's a significant contribution toward an understanding of the factors that impact good governance and the measures necessary to avert corruption and other negative practices. A pointed and timely work highly recommended for political front liners, academics, students, and all interested in understanding and willing to help shape and re-shape the Caribbean and its attendant institutions.

[David Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I visited St Lucia for a day on a cruise ship and wanted to learn more about what it is like to live there. This book is a very interesting window to the politics of the country. As I knew nothing of this, it was a little hard to get started on this book. I would encourage you, if you don’t know who Allen Chastanet is, as I did not, look him up and the two main political parties of St Lucia. Armed with this the rest is easy and insightful reading into what makes the island work.

[Jasmine DeCartier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting snapshot of the political situation in St Lucia. The author holds all political actors accountable without regard to political affiliation. This makes the book more valuable to those who want to understand the politics of St. Lucia.