ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the reasons for the failure of the Federation of the West Indies. It begins with an overview of the development of the idea of federation. The chapter examines how it influenced political discourse within the region, particularly among those small, but influential groups that were seeking self-government. The chapter focuses on the lack of a West Indian identity, the role of internal political processes in the context of a rapidly changing external environment and the lack of strong leadership within a weak federal structure. The individual units of the federation did not function as fully autonomous liberal democracies but remained, to different degrees, under colonial control. A stronger Federal Executive would have assisted the development of a regional focus in both political and economic development planning as well as engage the leaders and citizens in the concept of federation as a viable method of government.
