For the past academic year, I have been assisting Dr Imaobong Umoren in conducting her research on Dame Eugenia Charles, the former Prime Minister of Dominica, and her relations with the United States between 1980-1995.
Charles was the first woman lawyer in Dominica, and furthermore, the first woman head of government elected in her own right in the Americas. Still, although her legacy may appear to be a hallmark of progress, she was well known for her staunch conservative politics, including her controversial support for the 1983 United States invasion of Grenada. She was a complicated figure to be sure, and her legacy calls for nuanced reflection, yet little previous work was to be found on her life and deeds.
Methodology
As such, the research involved working heavily with primary sources. In the early stages of the research, Dr Umoren assigned me to compile newspaper articles from outside the Caribbean which commented on Charles’ time in office. At first, this required simple Google searches but as our work became more complex, Dr Umoren referred me to the Oxford Scholarship database which allowed me to access articles that had been previously blocked by paywalls. I compiled all these articles in a spreadsheet, stored using cloud computing, which allowed both of us to access the articles and see new additions in real time.
In the latter half of the project, Dr Umoren assigned me to compile newspaper articles, but this time from within the Caribbean itself. The main source consulted was Jamaican newspaper ‘The Daily Gleaner’, which has been in publication since 1834. Accessing this paper required using the reading rooms at the British Library, and requesting to view the archives on microfilm. It was a pleasant learning experience; I had never had contact with microfilm before nor any idea of how to use it, but the staff were very friendly in assisting me. Of course, since this was not a digital source it meant I had to read most of the articles I assessed, scanning carefully for mentions of Charles before moving on or emailing them to Dr Umoren if they were relevant.
Results and some Conclusions
In this period I learnt a lot, not just about Charles, but about my home country Jamaica, due to the sources consulted. I was able to situate Charles’ legacy within the wider context of Caribbean security and development. She, former US president Ronald Reagan and former Jamaican PM Edward Seaga were the conservative buffers in a very tumultuous time for Caribbean politics. As a Black woman, Charles faced enemies in all directions. She overcame two coup attempts, one of which was plotted by KKK members, and went on to become the longest serving Prime Minister in the history of independent Dominica. What makes Dr Umoren’s project unique from other research on Caribbean politics is that she highlights the often neglected role of women in Caribbean politics and the shaping of the Caribbean developmental state.
My experience with the project
My gratitude for this opportunity cannot be overstated. Working for the US Centre has been everything I wished it to be and more: friendly and supportive staff who have gone above and beyond to assist me, engaging research and access to some of the most sought after events on campus. This research assistantship had initially sparked my interest because I grew up in the Caribbean, up until age 18 when I left to attend LSE. My friends had called my attention to the posting as they said it was the perfect opportunity for me.
They were supremely correct; I was able to research something specific to my region and furthermore, to understand how a scattered collection of islands can still carry a huge geopolitical impact.
Please note that this report gives the views and findings of the Undergraduate Research Assistant, and may not necessarily reflect those of their faculty supervisor, the US Centre or the London School of Economics.