This thesis examines the development of the Jamaican economy from 1920 to 1940. It looks at the attempts of local capital to set up independent ventures in both the agricultural and the indust ri al spheres, and considers the responses of both the imperial a nd local state, and British and foreign capital. The study attempts to exami ne , within the appropriate theoretical framework , t he proc ess of devel opme nt wi thi n a colony at a time of world depression , and t he role of the state, particularly the colonial state, in helping or hinderiug attempts to promote some form of industrialisation . This i s done t hrough a number of case studies in the agricultural and indus trial sectors. Once the British and Jamaican context has been outlined, the a na lysi s o i the agricultural sphere considers the crisis in the sugar indust ry a nd the attempts to find alternatives to it. This focuses on the establishment of Producers Associations, anal ysing t hose groups i nvol ved in them, their relationship with the Jamai can and imperia l gover nment s, and the reasons for their lack of succ ess in sol vi ng Jama i ca ' s agricul tural problems. The industrial section f ocu sse~:; on four case studies: the first considers the establ ishment of a gri c ultural processing, primarily in the form of edible oil s and s oap. The second examines the role of the state in promoting industr ia l enterpri ses through looking at two Acts passed to protect cer tain ventures particularly the match industry. The third case study a na l yses t hEattempts of a multinational to establi s h a branch plant a nd it demonstrates the changes in colonial policy which had occurred by the end of the 1930s. The fourth case study also hi g hlights these c hanges , and because it is an example of a venture whi ch did not receive offic ial sanction brings out the difficulties facing those attempting to transform themselves into an industriall y product ive bourgeoi Si e at this time.