ABSTRACT
This is a concise, up-to-date analysis of Haiti’s development experience, its historical complexities, and contemporary struggles. The chapter covers key patterns of political development, the varying roles played by the state, political actors, civil society, as well as social and economic trends. A core argument of the author is that the long-standing corrosion of national governance has translated into frustrations at street level—sometimes violently—and has made it difficult to deal effectively with Haiti’s multiple challenges. A legacy of instability has generated a frustrating search for modernization and responsive governance—framed by weak political institutions, an absence of sustainable economic policymaking, and an overburdened social infrastructure. This has deepened Haiti’s vulnerability to external interventions—ultimately generating not only at times direct US administration, but in periods of political breakdowns, and natural disasters (notably severe earthquakes in 2010 and 2021), triggering layers of direct engagement from the international community. Despite these hard facts, Haiti has not lost the basic fabric of its national character, which has over time generated rich cultural traditions. This comprehensive introduction to Haiti’s politics also includes helpful endnotes and suggestions for further reading.
