by Rev. Vonnie E James, JP, MO
In June 2022, Grenada experienced what many supporters of the then‑governing party described as disastrous disbelief.
After three consecutive clean sweeps in 2008, 2013, and 2018 — winning all 15 parliamentary seats — the party suddenly lost power. For its base, the shock was not just political; it was emotional, communal, and spiritual. This moment revealed a truth often overlooked: electoral defeat can feel like grief.
The psychology of political loss
Grief after elections follows recognisable patterns. Kübler‑Ross (1969) identified stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, which can be applied to political life. Citizens often express these emotions vividly: denial (“the results must be wrong”), anger (“we were robbed”), bargaining (“if only more votes came from St John’s or Kingston”), depression (“our future is lost”), and acceptance (“we must regroup for the next election”).
The Bible reminds us, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Ps. 30:5, KJV). Political grief, like spiritual grief, requires time, resilience, and hope.
Grief, loss, and mourning
David Kessler (2019) clarifies that while people use them interchangeably, they carry distinct meanings:
- Loss is the objective event — the defeat of a party or candidate
- Grief is the internal emotional response to that loss
- Mourning is the outward expression of grief — protests, silence, or civic rituals
Grenada’s 2022 election illustrates all 3 dimensions.
Evidence of political grief
Research confirms that election loss can cause a form of grief, often termed “political grief,” characterised by severe emotional distress, anxiety, and even physical health issues (Improving Lives Counselling Services, 2024). Psychologists argue that losing an election creates a “loss of hopes and dreams” for the future, leading to despair and sadness — core components of grieving (Cambridge University Press & Assessment, 2024).
Because elections lack closure rituals like funerals, some scholars describe this as “ambiguous loss,” a frozen grief that lingers without resolution (APA, 2024). Studies show that the pain of losing an election can outweigh the joy of winning, with partisans reporting distress levels comparable to national traumas (APA, 2024).
Behavioural data supports this: Google Trends revealed spikes in searches for “grief” after the 2008 and 2016 US elections, while sociological studies highlight disengagement, protest, and interpersonal conflict as common responses (Improving Lives Counselling Services, 2024). Public health research adds another layer: counties that voted for losing candidates in 2020 saw rises in cardiovascular deaths, suicides, and overdoses, suggesting political stress can have tangible impacts on physical health (NIH, 2025).
Caribbean and US illustrations (alphabetical order)
- Antigua: Electoral losses have historically divided communities, with supporters grieving as though their identity was stripped away
- Barbados: The 2018 general election saw one party win all seats, leaving opposition supporters in shock and grief, questioning their place in governance
- Dominica: After contentious elections, grief has manifested in protests, reflecting mourning as a communal expression of loss
- Grenada: The 2022 defeat after 3 clean sweeps exemplifies grief as disastrous disbelief
- Jamaica: Alternating victories between the JLP and PNP often leave half the population grieving, with emotions spilling into cultural and social spaces
- St Vincent and the Grenadines: Close elections have produced grief among losing supporters, sometimes leading to disputes over legitimacy
- Trinidad and Tobago: The rivalry between PNM and UNC has created cycles of grief and mourning, with each side experiencing deep emotional loss when defeated
- USA: The 2020 election revealed grief on a national scale, with millions struggling to accept results, some expressing mourning through protests and conspiracy movements
Falling Forward: Reframing electoral loss
“Falling forward” is a mindset that reframes losing, failure, and setbacks as necessary, forward‑moving steps toward success rather than final, negative outcomes. Popularised by figures like Denzel Washington, the concept suggests that if you must fall or fail, you should do so while moving ahead, using lessons learned to make progress (Washington, 2011).
Key aspects of falling forward:
- Growth and Learning: Failure is part of the learning process
- Resilience and persistence: Success often comes in proportion to how many times you fail and keep trying
- Proactive action: Taking risks and operating at the edge of your abilities
- Reframing mistakes: Turning obstacles into opportunities
- Immediate application: Analysing loss quickly to gain insights for the next attempt
Ultimately, falling forward means temporary defeats are “installments” on the road to victory. As long as individuals — or political parties — do not remain where they fell, they are still making progress.
Toward a healthier democratic culture
Preparing to lose is not defeatism; it is emotional literacy. Caribbean and American democracies must normalise grief as part of political life. By educating citizens about grief, loss, mourning, and the practice of falling forward, we can transform elections from moments of division into opportunities for growth, empathy, and unity.
Grenada’s 2022 experience reminds us that even after clean sweeps and dominance, loss can arrive suddenly and painfully. But if we learn to fall forward, acknowledging grief, expressing mourning, and using lessons to rebuild — then defeat becomes not the end, but the beginning of resilience.
Rev. Vonnie E James, JP, MO, is a public theologian in Grenada.
