2016/07/03 by Stephen Constantine · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Island Studies and Pacific Affairs #Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration #Australian History and Society #Democracy #Governor #Government (linguistics) #Legislature #Politics #Decolonization #Public administration #Law #Political science #Political economy #Sociology
paper · doi:10.1080/03086534.2016.1210811
openalex publication_date 2016/07/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
In the age of decolonisation, Whitehall generally accepted the case for political advancement even in small British colonies like St Helena judged too lacking in resources to become independent states, provided this could be granted without risk to good government. The previous experience of Sir John Field in West Africa and his sensitivity to UN expectations lay behind the democratic reforms he introduced, which by 1968 had established an elected Legislative Council and an Executive Council made up mainly of LegCo members. But the steps he took owed little to sustained popular demand for self-government, as was common elsewhere, and much to his determination to make islanders politically more responsible. Public engagement was inhibited by practical constraints, local culture and a discouraging financial dependence on the UK government.