Slavery, Smallholding and Tourism: Social Transformations in

In this review of Slavery, Smallholding and Tourism: Social Transformations in the British Virgin Islands, the reviewer finds a tightly argued historical and anthropological study best suited for readers interested in Caribbean development, social history, and political economy. The book's single biggest reason to read it is its clear tracing of economic change from plantation slavery through a century of smallholding to the modern dominance of tourism, which offers important context for anyone studying how economic systems shape community identity. This review highlights how the author connects historical patterns to contemporary consequences.

Key Features

• Historical scope: Surveys the transition from plantation slavery to a smallholding economy, giving readers a long-term view of social and economic change in the British Virgin Islands.
• Anthropological approach: Uses ethnographic and historical methods to show how shifts in production and labor affected the daily lives of BVIslanders, known as Belongers.
• Political economy focus: Frames tourism as a modern monocrop and explains its dependence-related effects on local livelihoods and policy.
• Contextual foreword: The new Foreword situates the work within Caribbean research and underscores its early contribution to understanding tourism's historical roots.
• Case-study clarity: Presents evidence and argumentation that help readers see continuities between past inequalities and present economic structures.

Who It's For

This book is best for scholars, graduate students, and informed general readers who want a rigorous yet readable study of Caribbean social change and development policy. Historians of slavery, anthropologists studying tourism impacts, and policy analysts examining dependent economies will find the analysis useful.

Readers seeking a general travel guide, a broad survey of Caribbean tourism industry practice, or a contemporary policy manual with prescriptive recommendations should look elsewhere, since the book emphasizes historical interpretation and social analysis over practical business advice.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Carefully links historical plantation structures to modern economic dependence, offering a coherent interpretive framework.
• Combines historical documentation with anthropological observation, which deepens understanding of how economic shifts affect community identity.
• The Foreword helps situate the study within wider Caribbean scholarship, enhancing its academic value.

Cons

• The book is analytical rather than prescriptive, so readers seeking concrete policy solutions or business guidance may find it limited.

Specifications

Title	Slavery, Smallholding and Tourism: Social Transformations in the British Virgin Islands
Authors / Brand	Michael E O'Neal, Bill Maurer, Colleen Ballerino Prof Cohen
Subject	Political economy, Caribbean history, anthropology
Geographic focus	British Virgin Islands
Core themes	Slavery, smallholding, tourism, dependent industries
Approach	Historical and anthropological analysis

Our Verdict

Slavery, Smallholding and Tourism is a compact, insightful study that convincingly links historical economic forms to contemporary dependency on tourism; it is good value for scholars and serious readers who want interpretive depth rather than a how-to guide, and it illuminates the social stakes behind development choices in the British Virgin Islands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover the history of slavery in the BVI?
Yes; it examines the plantation era and how its demise influenced later smallholding and economic change.

Is the book academic in tone?
Yes; it uses historical and anthropological methods and is aimed at readers comfortable with scholarly analysis.

Will it tell you how to build a tourism business?
No; the book analyzes tourism as a social and economic phenomenon rather than offering practical business advice.