Two authors, two books that have done us proud
IF it was egg, as Jamaicans like to say, Dr Richard Bernal was in the red, while he served for 10 years as Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS).
Much of the scintillating moments that marked that sojourn in Washington, a veritable jungle of diplomatic intrigue, are captured in Dr Bernal’s latest book, The Influence of Small States on Superpowers.
It was inevitable that such a book would be written and who better to do it than Dr Bernal, who took Jamaican audacity to the US capital and cemented the island’s well-honed reputation as a country whose influence rises well beyond its size. In a way, the author’s story is first-hand.
We find common cause with Congressman Charles Rangel, the former chairman of the US House Ways and Means Committee who deems the book an essential tool for providing political leaders and students of international relations, with an understanding that small and large countries alike have the potential to influence the foreign policy decisions of super powers.
Commenting on The Influence of Small States on Superpowers, outstanding political activist Mr Randall Robinson and Sir George Alleyne, chancellor of the University of the West Indies go further in recognising Jamaica’s impact as a small state on US foreign policy and world affairs in general.
“The dominant school of thought is that the foreign policies of large nations, are — with the exception of symbolic gestures and acts of ‘generosity’ — impervious to the policy priorities of small states. Jamaica, as a matter of historical fact, turns this theory on its head,” says Mr Randall.
He adds: “Bernal, as Jamaica’s ambassador and key strategist…details the ways in which his small nation was able, between 1991 and 2001, to have an indisputable impact on the foreign policy of the world’s sole superpower. This work is an invaluable resource for policy-makers, students of international relations, those intrigued by the often maze-like character of US foreign policy formulation, and those curious about the insights and skills that enabled Jamaica to have so clear an impact.”
Sir George describes the book, and we agree wholeheartedly, as “a scintillating and well-argued account of how, contrary to popular dogma, a small country like Jamaica can influence USA foreign policy. The manner in which this influence was exercised and the lucid account of the lessons learned make this book an important landmark in the international diplomacy especially of small states…”
Heartiest congratulations to Ambassador Richard Bernal.
A Brief History of Seven Killings
Congratulations are also due to Mr Marlon James, who became the first Jamaican to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize for his A Brief History of Seven Killings which was described by the chairman of the judging panel, Mr Michael Wood, as “the most exciting book on the list” of five finalists.
James’ work of fiction found the attempt to assassinate reggae icon Bob Marley in the late 1970s as a worthy backdrop, enough to win the unanimous choice of the five-judge panel. This is indeed no mean achievement by a writer we are proud to embrace for the time he spent his early days honing his craft in the Jamaica Observer’s newsroom.