ABSTRACT
Civilian led constitutional government benefitted from the circumstances surrounding its emergence in the Caribbean region in the post war period. Since the 1960s Jamaica has been considered by both journalists and academic social science analysts as a prime target for political instability. Rival Cuban and US interests intervened in Jamaican politics supporting the socialist and anti-socialist parties and bringing in resources to assist their Jamaican client interests. A number of factors have contributed to the high level of political stress management in the Jamaican political system. The high level of party politicization in the Jamaican political culture spills over into the political behavior of the security forces. The most critical factor, however, guaranteeing and favoring future continuity of constitutional government in Jamaica is the country’s high level of stress management and political capability in the handling of political and social tensions.
