"Slavery, Smallholding and Tourism" explores the political economy of development in the British Virgin Islands - from plantations, through the evolution of a smallholding economy, to the rise of tourism. The study argues that the demise of plantation economy in the BVI ushered in a century of imperial disinterest persisting until recently, when a new "monocrop" - tourism - became ascendant. Using an historical and anthropological approach, O'Neal reveals how the trend toward reliance on tourism and other dependent industries affects many BVIslanders - called the "Belongers" - in ways that echo their historical and economic heritage.

Part of the "Classic Dissertation Series" from Quid Pro Books, the book adds a new Foreword by Vassar's Colleen Ballerino Cohen and additional commentary by UC-Irvine's Bill Maurer, who shows how even the emergence of a financial services industry may be understood through the insights that O'Neal presents in his study.

"From the new Foreword: " "Read in the historical context of tourism and Caribbean research, Michael O'Neal's work stands out as an early and significant contribution. But even apart from its pioneering status, this is an important book. A quarter of a century after the original research, the work is fresh, innovative, and ethnographically rich... an in-depth account of the transformations activated by tourism, as they are happening." - Colleen Ballerino Cohen, Professor of Anthropology and Women's Studies, Vassar College Author, "Take Me to My Paradise"

"From the new Afterword: " "O'Neal's book is a story of tourism, not finance. But it was written right at the beginning of the emergence of this 'second pillar' of the British Virgin Islands' economy - financial services - and the tantalizing references to that industry in this book, as well as the rich discussion of the enduring influence of the plantation complex, provide ... commentary on value, its circulation, and its deep histories, histories that this volume helps us better to discern." - Bill Maurer, Professor of Anthropology and Law, University of California, Irvine
Author, "Recharting the Caribbean"

This book is designed to help students through the challenges that they encounter when they cross cultures for college study abroad. In addition to giving students some "heads-up" on the sorts of cultural and emotional upheavals to expect, this book provides simple exercises that allow students to adjust to their new cultural surroundings while discovering new things about themselves. As students use this book, they also create a journal that records the details of one of the most important experiences of their college years. We have made this book small, by design. We want it to be easy to carry, easy to engage with. We have also designed exercises that are focused and easily accomplished. (As college students know better than anyone, when a task is too large it can be overwhelming, but completing a small obtainable goal is gratifying). Colleen Ballerino Cohen is an anthropologist who has 25 years experience teaching students how to adjust to and learn about different cultures. Grace Myhill is a social worker who has extensive experience counseling college students, and has developed workshops for students returning from study abroad. We both know that going away and returning home again presents intense and surprising challenges. We have combined our experience and knowledge to help students with the emotional and social fine-tuning that living and studying in another culture inevitably requires provide useful exercises for getting to know and becoming adept at living in another culture help students make the transition back into their own culture, and apply their study abroad experience to the rest of their college experience. On a more personal note, it is our hope that you, ourreader, will enjoy reflecting on the questions and ideas presented in this book. As you use this book to become familiar with the new culture that you are living in, and to discover the person that you are changing into through the study abroad expe