Political corruption in the Caribbean Basin retards state economic growth and development, undermines government legitimacy, and threatens state security. In spite of recent anti-corruption efforts of intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations (IGO/NGOs), Caribbean political corruption problems appear to be worsening in the post-Cold War period. This work discovers why IGO/NGO efforts to arrest corruption are failing by investigating the domestic and international causes of political corruption in the Caribbean.

Michael W. Collier is the Research Director of Florida International University's Latin American and Caribbean Center.

1. Introduction 2. A Theory of Political Corruption 3. A History of Caribbean Political Corruption 1492-1950 4. Contemporary Caribbean Political Corruption 5. Jamaica: Westminster Corrupted 6. Costa Rica: Democracy Manipulated 7. Conclusion