Instability in Haiti by Alessandra Marte

Part I: Historical Context and Introduction

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Instability in Haiti has affected its citizens for decades. Its contributing factors include poverty,natural disasters and corrupt governments. Haiti has endured great deal of apolitical and social instability. Politics in Haiti are considered historically unstable due to various coups d'état, regime changes, military juntas and internal conflicts. After Jean-Bertrand Aristide who served formally as president, was deposed, Haitian politics became relatively stable. The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Haiti an "authoritarian regime" in 2022. Violence within the country has been a leading contributor as it has increased severely over the years. According to the council of foreign relations "Violence has soared over the course of 2023 as gangs consolidate control of more than 80 percent of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. Between January and mid-August, an estimated 2,439 people were killed; abductions, extortion, and sexual violence have surged"(Center for Preventive Action,2023,para.1)The Haitian nation gained independence from France in the early nineteenth century, becoming the world's first Black-led republic although it faced many development challenges. Haiti’s weak political institutions have facilitated corruption and impunity, and its vulnerability to natural disasters has created poverty and inequality, making it one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Part II: America’s Role in the Conflict

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The United States plays a critical role in the future development of Haiti's society. The United States of America and Haiti have had diplomatic relations since 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln had commissioned Benjamin F. Whidden to act as a U.S. diplomatic representative to Haiti and establish an American Legation in the country. Haiti has experienced numerous periods of intense political and economic situations, which prompted U.S. military intervention in 1915. After a 19-year occupation, U.S. military forces were withdrawn from the island in 1934, and Haiti regained sovereign rule. The United States is currently the largest donor of humanitarian assistance on the island.Today, the Chief of Mission within the U.S. oversees a mission that includes more than a dozen U.S. government agencies. In addition to managing relationship between the two countries, the embassy also helps American citizens in distress and works to deepen investment and trade. The embassy is also active in the Haitian-led international effort to rebuild the country following an earthquake on January 12, 2010. The U.S. government team in Haiti is helping to strengthen governance and the rule of law, improve infrastructure, ensure improved health care, and increase agricultural productivity and food security.The U.S. policy is used to foster and strengthen democracy as well to reduce poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition and most importantly, promote respect for basic human right and address illegal drug trafficking.

Part III: Significance

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The U.S. benefits from Haiti in several ways.If the U.S. were to disallow visas to Haitian immigrants, the United States is cutting off an economically beneficial opportunity for both itself and the Haitian people. These visas gave Haitians a chance to work legally in the United States, contribute to the U.S. economy and help fund the recovery of Haiti after the earthquake.The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Haiti and the workers that travel to America on temporary visas. According to the Boreign Project "By disallowing visas to Haitian immigrants, the United States is cutting off an economically beneficial opportunity for both itself and the Haitian people. "(HOW THE US BENEFITS FROM FOREIGN AID TO HAITI, Bramlett, 2018) The special visas gave Haitians a rare chance to work legally in the United States, contribute to the U.S. economy and help fund the recovery of Haiti after the earthquake. I believe that the situation in Haiti will worsen over the years. My reasoning for this is because Haiti is an island that has been somewhat neglected over the year do to its economical status. American people should be more aware and informed of issues occurring in less fortunate countries and find the compassion to help those in need. In a recent interview with PBS a women states" we live in misery everyday" which is an extremely worsen statement. Due to Haitis history of corruption, social and political flaws and violence the future of Haiti unfortunately does not look very positive.

More information regarding the crisis.

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