The Country of Haiti - Essay Example

HAITI: Country Study due HAITI: Country Study The poorest country in the Western hemisphere, Haiti is a country in which political violence is a feature of the political landscape, subsistence is the norm and poverty runs rampant. A former French colony settled by former slaves which obtained independence from Napoleon’s France more than a century and a half before the national independence of much of Black Africa, Haiti remains mired in poverty and effectively removed from the forces of economic globalization which has come to characterize the developed West. Seeking to address the history of this island country as well as provide a social study of Haiti today, this essay will begin with an introduction to this Caribbean nation and follow with an analysis of the religious and political situation in Haiti. We follow with a section on ethnic and cultural divisions and explore the concept of women and Haitian development. Seeking to provide as holistic an analysis as possible, we conclude with a concise overview of each issue studied and provide a comprehensive conclusion regarding the Haitian condition today. As one of the most fascinating, yet under explored, countries in the Americas, the following will provide a clear introduction to the country of Haiti. Introduction The Republic of Haiti is a French-speaking island of the Caribbean which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Although originally, inhabited by the Amerindian Taino people, Haiti today is inhabited by a French and Haitian Creole speaking population which holds the dubious distinction of being one of the poorest places on the planet. Centered in the colonial capital Port-au-Prince, Haitian history is fascinating and a brief overview of the history of this island nation is necessary in order to full situate the island within a larger historical context. Haiti is the sole predominately French-speaking independent nation state in the Americas and a country with a strong independent streak and a history of fighting for national independence and self-determination. As the first independent country in Latin America, the Haitian people led the world’s first successful slave revolt which paved the way for the establishment of the modern independent Haitian Republic. Accordingly, Haiti also holds the distinction of being the fist independent black nation in the world which wrestled off the vestiges of colonialism. Although Haiti has a remarkable past, today this country subsists under the poverty threshold. Approximately 80% of the population is impoverished, the life expectancy is 61 years (59.1 for men and 62.5 for women), literacy is estimated at 53% and the percentage of the population living with AIDS affects approximately 2% of the total population. While the total fertility rate of the country remains high at 3.81 births per woman, this republican country has a low GDP per capita at $1,300 USD with remittances accounting for the largest income source in the country. According to the United Nations, Haiti now ranks near the bottom of the UN’s Human Development Index and in 2006 was number 146 out of a possible 177 countries globally. Here is a graph showing employment figures for Haiti, with 70% of the workforce unemployed (CIA 2009): Religion and Politics Religion plays an important role in the lives of Haitians and although the country is officially a secular Republic, the majority of the Haitian people are Roman Catholics (estimated to be 80%). This is a legacy of the French colonial experience although in recent time, Protestant denominations have gained importance including Baptists, Pentecostals and Seven Day Adventists. According to studies of Haitian culture and society, voodoo remains prevalent and this quasi-religious faith is practiced – often in tandem with other religions – by an estimated half of the population. There is no official state religion in Haiti and this is a result of the French concept of laicité or secularism which has been one of the founding principles of the new, impendent Haitian state. Conflict between religions is rare and voodoo teachings co-exist with more mainstream religious traditions in Haiti. Accordingly religious divisions are not major factors within a relatively religious homogenous Haitian state. Political divisions are exacerbated by an unequal division of wealth and a large concentration of urban poor in the capital city of Port au Prince. Former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide’s Lavalas party has traditionally appealed to the poor city dwellers in the suburbs of Port au Prince but he was effectively removed from power by a rural-led insurgency in a 2004 rebellion. The current administration is perceived as being more pro-American and which also caters to the small business elite within the Haitian state (Guynup 2004; CIA 2009; Rey 1999). Ethnic and Cultural Divisions As opposed to ethnic or cultural divisions, the primary divisions in Haitian society are between the haves and the have-nots, according the country is relatively homogenous from a cultural perspective. Social stratification is an important concern in Haiti with a sharp division between those with access to foreign sources of income (such as through remittances) and those who do not. Haiti remains one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world and the recent political removal of President Jean Bertrand Aristide represented more of a class conflict that an ethnic or cultural change. Post-colonial conflicts are primarily between Haitians of black Haitian heritage although there are significant numbers of French citizens and French-Canadians working on Haiti on development projects. These foreigners are sometimes subject to theft and violence but for monetary reasons and not for political purposes. With a relatively homogenous culture, poverty again is a defining feature in Haiti and the present conflicts which exist, or have existed in Haiti over the past 100 years, have been about access to resources as opposed to an ethnic or cultural struggle. As the sole majority French speaking country in Latin America, relative ethnic and cultural homogeneity have been a feature of the Haitian Republic for more than two centuries (BBC 2009; Rey 1999). Women and Development As the only country which was ever founded in response to a slave revolt, Haiti had high expectations upon independence but has unfortunately remained impoverished for much of its post-colonial life. Violence is endemic in the Western hemisphere’s poorest country and murder and rape are common. According to the women’s organization Madre.org, after the 2004 coup in which President Jean Bertrand Aristide was overthrown, 8,000 murders and 35,000 sexual assaults occurred in and around Port au Prince following the coup. Accordingly, wealth is unevenly distributed, women remain impoverished and the richest 1% of the population control nearly 50% of its wealth. The political and socioeconomic status of Haitians is dire for all, although women bear the brunt of much of the underdevelopment. Women report higher rates of illiteracy and attempts at modernization must seek to address the concerns of Haitian women. Accordingly 80% of all Haitians live in extreme poverty and this is a feature of life for all (Madre 2009; Peters 1995). Concluding Remarks As the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, Haiti remains effectively isolated from the benefits of modernization and economic growth. Although Haiti obtained independence from Napoleon’s France more than a century and a half before the national independence of much of Black Africa, Haiti remains incredibly poor and prone to violence and political strife. Seeking to provide as holistic an analysis as possible, this essay has looked at important economic indicators for this island state and has explored the ethnic and cultural divisions – or lack thereof – in Haiti, the role of religion and politics and analyzed the prospects for women and development. Accordingly, any attempts at resolving the poverty problem in Haiti must address the role of women in helping to overcome these social problems. references Guynup, S. (2004). “Haiti: Possessed by Voodoo” National Geographic Channel. Last Accessed May 16 2009: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0707_040707_tvtaboovoodoo.html “Haiti”. BBC.com. Last Accessed May 16 2009: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1202772.stm “Haiti”. CIA World Fact Book. Last Accessed May 16 2009: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html “Haiti”. Madre.org. Last Accessed May 16 2009: http://www.madre.org/index.php?s=9&b=23 Peters, J.S. (1995). Womens rights, Human rights. London: Routledge. Rey, T. (1999). “Junta, Rape, and Religion in Haiti, 1993-1994”, Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion , vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 73-100. Read More