Telecommunications and underdevelopment : a policy analysis of the historical role of Cable and Wireless in the Caribbean
The foundation structures for telecommunications in the English-speaking Caribbean were laid during the period of direct colonial control of the region by Britain. They formed part of the global communications network of a large empire requiring quick and efficient links with a remote imperial Centre. In this thesis, we argue, however, that the Caribbean component of this colonial telecommunications system was designed not just to improve imperial political administration of a distant and scattered region, but even more directly in support of a Nineteenth century drive for increased British private capital accumulation in Central and South America. We indicate that in the process of penetrating the Caribbean territories, the early British multinational telegraph conglomerates received the direct financial and technical support of their British home government, in a meso-corporatist relationship designed to counter both United States and other European competition in the region. The company Cable and Wireless emerged, both as an end-product of this inter-imperialist competition, and as an attempt to rationalize the innovation of wireless telegraphy with the more established cable network interests. Political
Dunn, Hopeton Sydney
H Social Sciences
Telecommunications and underdevelopment : a policy analysis of the historical role of Cable and Wireless in the Caribbean. The foundation structures for telecommunications in the English-speaking Caribbean were laid during the period of direct colonial control of the region by Britain. They formed part of the global communications network of a large empire requiring quick and efficient links with a remote imperial Centre. In this thesis, we argue, however, that the Caribbean component of this colonial telecommunications system was designed not just to improve imperial political administration of a distant and scattered region, but even more directly in support of a Nineteenth century drive for increased British private capital accumulation in Central and South America. We indicate that in the process of penetrating the Caribbean territories, the early British multinational telegraph conglomerates received the direct financial and technical support of their British home government, in a meso-corporatist relationship designed to counter both United States and other European competition in the region. The company Cable and Wireless emerged, both as an end-product of this inter-imperialist competition, and as an attempt to rationalize the innovation of wireless telegraphy with the more established cable network interests. Political
underdevelopment policy analysis historical role cable caribbean foundation structure english_speaking caribbean laid period direct colonial control region britain form_part global communication_network large empire require quick efficient link remote imperial centre argue however caribbean component colonial system design improve imperial political administration distant scattered region even directly support drive increase british private capital accumulation central south_america indicate process penetrate caribbean territory early british multinational receive direct financial technical support british home government meso relationship design counter united_states european competition region company cable emerge end product inter imperialist competition attempt innovation establish cable network interest political