ABSTRACT
An important feature of the Jamaican political economy is the degree to which the relatively atypical and evenly balanced two-party system permitted the playing out of these sharp ideological contests for power without resort to unconstitutional seizures by any of the main political groupings. Political liberalism and social reforms in domestic policies and a unified perception of world politics provided an anchor of consensus that stabilized Jamaican politics. Under the Manley government, Jamaica moved from low to medium levels of state economic intervention. In contrast to Guyana, where development of a Third World socialist ideological framework led to 80 percent state ownership and high levels of intervention in all important economic areas, considerable private-sector economic power and ownership remained intact in Jamaica. Indications are that the Edward Seaga private investment program, developed to make Jamaica a major recipient of US investment, is not likely to succeed.
