The Symbols of Sovereignty: A Study of the Symbolism of Jamaica’s Route to Republic in the Post Elizabeth II Era

Abstract

Jamaica is a constitutional monarchy and thus still has the British King as head of state, it has been on the table to remove the King as head of state for decades, and as Queen Elizabeth II passed away and King Charles III now has taken over the throne, the issue has come to the surface. This study investigates what perceptions exist on making such a constitutional reform, with the main focus on gaining greater understanding of how removing the British King as head of state of Jamaica being perceived as part of the process of gaining full independence. The study takes a stance in the postcolonial school of thought, and expanding the knowledge about the symbolic aspects of decolonization is the aim of the essay. This is done through analyzing tweets regarding the keywords ‘monarch’, ‘republic’, ‘constitution’ and ‘independence’, posted since the death of the Queen. The main results regard how the Crown has come to be a symbol of colonialism, and how removal of the Crown is seen as a step of symbolic decolonization on the route towards full independence.