Abstract This paper examines the concepts of nationalism, democracy and revolution in the context of Haiti. The author explores the creation of the country's statehood, the first autonomous Caribbean nation to overthrow colonial power. The paper also discusses the history of Haiti's government and its leaders.
From the Paper "The Haitian Revolution of 1789 is among the best examples of revolutionary change in history. In thirteen years of both internal and international strife, a colony populated predominantly by plantation slaves overthrew both its colonial status as well as its economic system and in doing so established a new country. This new country was made entirely up of free people, many of whom had been slaves, constituting the political authority. Being the first Caribbean state to claim its independence, Haiti was not only dealing with France , they also needed to overcome the fact that it was distinctively alone in terms of its situation. The nature of the recent Revolutionary War in North America was more political than social or economic and so it provided no model for Haiti to follow. There was no other country to turn to for support. Despite the obstacles, the Haitians successfully revolted against the French and established a new nation."
Tags: democracy, nationalism, revolution, france, colonialism, aristide, duvalier, slaves
From the Paper "Dictatorship, as a form of government, has fallen into opprobrium in the course of the 20th century. This was not always the case. "Dictator" was originally a Roman constitutional office, exercising absolute powers for a limited term during emergencies. Later, with repeated renewals of authority extending it to an indefinite term, it was used or abused by Julius Caesar before his assassination.
In modern times "dictator" has come to mean an autocratic ruler whose power is not hereditary or otherwise traditional in origin; that is, in contrast to an autocratic monarch. This writer is not aware of any ruler of modern times who has self-adopted it as a title, but in the earlier part of the 20th..."
Describes the ups & downs of governance in Haiti since the overthrow of the Duvaliers in 1986. Focuses on current difficulties since the US intervention in 1994.
3,375 words (approx. 13.5 pages), 11 sources, 1998, $ 119.95
From the Paper "I. Introduction
Today, the Caribbean island nation of Haiti is struggling to maintain its democratic experiment embarked upon in 1990. Presidential elections held in 1995 represented the first time in the nation's 200 year history that transition of power from one democratically elected government to another was completed successfully (Haiti - Political situation, 1997, 1). However, Haiti's fledgling democracy stands threatened by political infighting and lack of vision which has paralyzed the government. The democratic process in Haiti is also threatened by rampant corruption within the judicial system as well as an alarming surge in crime which many link directly to increased traffic in cocaine on the island (The wonders of Haitian democracy, 1998, 39)."
A historical background loking at the American involvement, politics, military, economics, Duvalier dictatorship, Aristide-Cedras conflict, role of the U.N. and the Carter-Clinton 1994 peace settlement.
3,375 words (approx. 13.5 pages), 9 sources, 1994, $ 119.95
From the Paper "After a long and difficult day of negotiations with Haiti's military rulers in September 1994, former President Jimmy Carter excused himself from dinner with some Haitian business people, withdrew to his hotel suite, and began typing the first draft of what later became the American agreement for the dissolution of Haiti's military regime. Carter never cleared his proposal with President Clinton. For that matter, the White House did not even know it existed until the following morning, almost half a day after Carter offered the proposal to the Haitian military. By then, Lieutenant General Raoul Cedras had already accepted the proposal as a basis for agreement. The transition from military to civilian rule had begun under uncertain terms.
The purpose of this research is to examine the events that led up to the Haitian crisis and the United States/Haitian..."
Abstract This paper provides an inquiry into the unique United Nations? intervention in Haiti. After a brief introduction to Haiti's history and violent politics the paper focuses on the events leading up to the United Nations? intervention. The events comprising of the UN-monitored elections in 1990 leading to the installation of Jean- Bertrand Aristide as President, his overthrow and exile in a military coup, economic sanctions and naval blockade of Haiti and finally approval of the UN Security Council, for the first time, for forcible intervention to change the Government is briefly discussed. The paper focuses, in particular, on the decision making process in the United Nations Security Council. The lessons learned from the Haiti action are analyzed and conclusions are drawn regarding pointers to the future role of the UN in Peacekeeping and Nation Building.
Questions Discussed in the Paper:
What prompted the United Nations Security Council to sanction force for the restoration of democracy?
Was international peace and security so threatened by Haiti's military government that the United Nations felt compelled to intervene?
Did the United Nations exceed its mandate?
Has democracy become such a widely accepted international norm that the United Nations has a right to restore it when a legally elected regime is forcibly overthrown?
If so, why only Haiti?
Did the United Nations allow the USA to use the Security Council to pursue its own regional purposes?
What role did the regional and other powers play in the build up to the intervention?
Has the concept of sovereignty been eroded by the actions of the UN Security Council in the 90s?
What are the consequences and lessons learned from the UN intervention in Haiti?
Does the United Nations have the wherewithal and resolve to sustain such interventions on a regular basis?
From the Paper "Aristide ,who was attempting many revolutionary reforms which alienated the elite, was overthrown in a military coup d?etat in September 1991. While Aristide went into exile, members of his movement were subjected to executions, oppression and grave violations of human rights. The Organisation of American States imposed a trade embargo on Haiti. By February 1992 about sixteen thousand refugees fleeing Haiti had already arrived in Florida. In 1992 an OAS mediated accord to create a government of consensus failed. Meanwhile the US President signed an order stating that all boat people attempting to enter USA from Haiti would be sent back without determining whether they had legitimate claims for asylum."
Abstract "The Eyes of the Heart: Seeking a Path for the Poor in the Age of Globalization" by Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is an important book, written not just for Haiti and its people, but on behalf of all people living in developing countries. The paper shows that the book is a cry for social justice for the poor of the world and in the book, Aristide uses his experiences of poverty and development in Haiti to lay bare and to berate the morality of a world that can allow situations, such as the one Haiti has lived through (and indeed continues to live through), to occur and to continue. The paper includes a short synopses of the life of the author and the history of Haiti in order to appreciate the significance of the book.
From the Paper "All in all, Aristide's book is a hymn to the strength of people in Haiti, to all people in the developing world, who, even under repression, under conditions that no-one in developed countries could even imagine, let alone have the strength to be able to live under, can have the strength to carry on, and to have hope that things will change, that things will get better. His book is intended as a manifesto for change, as a strength-giving sermon for those people. The book is also aimed at those people who hold the power to change the developing countries- developed countries imbalance that he writes about so powerfully."
Abstract This paper discusses the history of Haiti as one of exploitation which continues on into modern times. The paper looks at Haiti's relationship with the United States and especially France. Haiti's French debt is specifically focused on in the paper and the enormous amount that Haiti is expected to pay to France is discussed. The paper notes that this debt will likely keep Haiti in perpetual debt and will impact its economic and social situation.
Table of Contents:
The Contemporary Situation of Haiti
The Reign of Duvalier The Role of Aristide
The Economic and Social Implications
Conclusion
From the Paper "The history of Haiti is one of exploitation which continues on into modern times. First the French would utilize their population for slavery, after which time, upon their independence, demanded of them an amount of money impossible to ever be repaid, placing them in perpetual debt. The United States in collusion with France has blocked international assistance to the duly elected government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide while demanding repayments on debt incurred by past dictator regimes it knew the government couldn't pay. At the same time, the United States and France funded a wide range of antigovernment organizations in the name of promoting democracy. (McCollester 27) Given that the more powerful countries of the world seem to have an interest in keeping Haiti down, it's rising from within the depths of such an economic downturn and period of social upheaval is unlikely. This instability is sure to produce merely more revolutions, as foreign powers attempt to govern a country in such a was as is profitable to them, as opposed to allowing the natives of the country the freedom to govern and decide for themselves, which the very foreign powers acting upon them guarantee of their own citizens."
