Democratic Advance and Conflict Resolution in Post-Colonial Guyana

This sequal to Seecoomar's well-received "Contributions towards the Resolution of Conflict in Guyana" moves beyond his historical and theoretical analysis of the causes of ethnic conflict and the principles on which resolution might be based, to proposing practical suggestions for finding a way out of the current political impasse. At the heart of his argument is the desirability of devolving as much power away from the centre and restoring to village and township communities, within regional frameworks, the kind of local governance that was largely harmonious before competition for central power brought Guyana to a state of continuous, simmering ethnic civil war. But, Seecoomar recognises that Guyana's problems cannot all be solved at the local level, and he devotes intensive analysis to various models for power-sharing at the national level to replace the disastrous consequences of the 'first-past-the-post' Westminster parliamentary system. His proposal for 'alternating' government is both novel and provocative, addressing the need for both inclusion for both major ethnic groups and for responsible opposition.
The final section of his book addresses the question of leadership in an ethnically divided society.