History of Haiti, Madagascar, Burma and Palestine - Case Study Example

A long history of political instability: Haiti, Madagascar, Burma (Myanmar) and Palestine case research However much attention is paid nowadays on economic development of states, on their social and cultural wealthy and diplomatic abilities, nothing is really possible until a state forms its stable working political system. According precisely to political system, a state has laws and rights to determine different spheres of inner life and also, international relations with other countries. Other words, a political system has a strong connection with self-representation of a state in a public eye of its particular state population and in a world public eye. Thus, political instability forms a strong barrier for a state development and its international connections. Within four studied Third World countries, - Haiti, Madagascar, Burma (Myanmar) and Palestine, - a political history had formed a strong trend: long periods of political rigidity tend to alternate long periods of political instability. Haiti case In Haiti case, the state history has started already with a political rigidity. An expedition of Christopher Columbus in 1492, along with America opening, brought first colonizers on the island. In Haiti there already had been a native population to resist Spanish invasion, and therefore labor to be colonized. “The native peoples were tragically discriminated by Spanish colonization through coerced labor, persecution, and various illness”, and generally, “between 12 and 20 million peoples were killed” during early Spanish colonial policy (Coupeau 15). When at the beginning of 16th century silver and gold miles had been discovered in Mexico and South America, native Haitians were used as indigenous (low-paid) workers. During a 17th century, as the outcome of resistance between pirates, which had their base near on Tortuga island, and French West-Indian Company, Haiti island passed in a possession of France and called Saint Domingue. The period of successful planting had started and served for a French wealth. “At the dawn of the French Revolution, Saint Domingue was the most prosperous colony in the Antilles” (Coupeau 18). African slaves were constantly delivered on Haiti to work for Spanish colonizers. Soon, the island was majorly populated with African-born slaves and some native Creoles, and mulattos. There also were the Affranchis, a group of white workers or owners of a small commerce who started to demand for equal rights from colonizers. “The Affranchis and Creole-born slaves found allies among surviving Amerindians and African-born slaves to engage in the war of independence” (Coupeau 20). During a 1791 – 1804, Saint-Domingue was involved in revolution, which had ended as the only known case of slaves’ revolution success in world history. The independent state was called “Haiti”. From this moment, a history of Haiti independence takes its roots, yet a history of a constant political instability also. Struggling to build a political state on a factual independence, it took a 19th century for world countries to recognize Haiti state. Meanwhile, the inner political situation wasn’t stable. Already in 1806, the state was divided on Creole and African parts as the outcome of Haitians rebellion, and already by 1818, Haiti was a united state again. The current state president Jean-Piere Boyer was removed from power in 1843, and next year the Dominican Republic had been separated for keeps. In later half of 19th century Haiti experienced different political groups’ competitions for the state power and rebels, including the Piquets in the south and Cacos in the north. “Some 22 heads of state succeeded one another from 1843 to 1915, and only 11 of them lasted for more than one year” (Coupeau 61). 20th century had brought no political stability on the island. Worried with the situation, a neighbor U.S. has interfered, changing a period of independent instability on a period of U.S. military control on Haiti (1915 – 1934), making another vector of rebellion, the Anti-American one. A guerilla movement along with students’ strikes had lasted until the very pullout of American military forces, and already in 1937, Haiti state had almost came in a war with neighbor Dominican Republic on ethnic ground. Political instability continued after the Second World War and alternated again, on regime of rigidity. This time local dictator Francois Duvalier took powers, practicing repressions towards any opposition forces. Rebellion masses had only succeeded to overthrow Duvalier’s son, and again, a period of political instability had followed. U.S. military forced had to intrude again. Haiti hasn’t formed a strong political system until the present times. 2004 year rebellion against a president Jean-Bertrand Aristride, later falsifications during elections and new revolts leaves modern Haiti among the most poor and less developed countries in the world. Madagascar and Myanmar (Burma) cases Both experiencing European colonization during 19th century, Madagascar and Myanmar are states with a similar political history. Unlike Haiti civilization, their political history had started not with colonization, but with founding own political identity. A territory of Myanmar was a place of interest for neighbor Asian tribes and countries (China, Thailand and others) for a long before British invasion. Burma tribes were forced to form a self-presentation when Myanmar ethnics were going through a period of Warring local states, and to resist Mongolian invasion in 13th century. Meanwhile, Madagascar had created own strong ethnos of Malagasy, which appeared to be a contamination of Indian, Arabic and African people when coming and populating the island (Heale and Latif 23). With the beginning of a trade in Indian Ocean, traders constantly were arriving on the island, and Madagascar tribes were forced to form own political identity, and resist. As well as in Haiti, a piracy had played its role in Madagascar’s political history: along with a strong defensive reaction of tribes, a pirate base on the east side of the island served as a protection from Portuguese, and later Dutch and English colonizers. It was French who established a colony in Madagascar in 1642, but failed to subdue natives and left (Heale and Latif 23). Thus, appropriate conditions for Malagasy kingdom (Merima) foundation in 18th century were created. By early 19th century a local king Radama I had already spread its influence on the whole island. European colonization had happened by several stages on both, Myanmar and Madagascar lands. In Myanmar there were three periods of Anglo-Burmese Wars: during First War (1823 – 1826) and Second War (1852 – 1853) Britain provided the annexation of territories, and Third War (1885 - 1887) outcome was a complete British occupation of Burma, accompanied by natural liquidation of Burma independence and monarchy. The country was in a long period of rigidity under British rule until the Second World War period (Dillon 31). Pro-English policy of Madagascar king Ramada I and later, his son’s Ramada II pro-French policy slowly led Madagascar to imperial protectorate, and later, to a French possession. By the end of the century a Merima aristocracy was forced to exile, and Malagasy people were put under a high taxation, brutal repressions and forced to a plantation work, basically on “conditions of semi-slavery” (Heale and Latif 26). As well as in Myanmar case, a political relaxation came to Madagascar after the Second World War. In 1947, the armed rebellion of Malagasy against French colonization took place all over the country. Despite the revolt was successfully put down by French government, Madagascar state had received its autonomy from France in 1958, and since 1960 Madagascar was independent. A local social-democratic party came to power, but their governance had caused mass students’ strikes. A period of political instability had started. To calm the country down, a military directory took power in 1974, and the communistic discourse was provided. “In Madagascar Communism brought economic ruin”, and thus a new dissatisfaction with political course had grown in Madagascar society (Heale and Latif 31). Along with Soviet Union communistic regime fall, a similar process took place in Madagascar, driving a political relaxation and democratization. Yet another insurrection shook Madagascar recently, when in 2009 the state power was taken by the Antananarivo mayor, Andry Rajoelina. On the contrary, a Burmese inner conflict seems to come for its end nowadays. Starting with a Japanese invasion on British Burma territory in 1941, supported by Burmese nationalists, a conflict caused a mass bloodshed during the Second World War. Dozens of thousands were killed and wounded from both sides. However, Burma also received its independence after the Second World War, and also, had firstly failed to form a stable political system in the country. A civil war had broken soon after the proclaimed independence, both on politic and ethnic grounds. There was a resistance, mostly between Mon and Karen nationalities (Karen National Union), and a resistance between socialists and communists, accompanied with a wide spread guerilla movement. The insurrection made by socialistic powers in 1962 was the key moment of this war: “a group of generals led by General Ne Win turned the country into a dictatorship” (Dillon 31). Without any elections the regime lasted until the 1988, when protests firstly growing in Burma capital Rangoon, had spread all over the country, struggling against military control and for democratic elections. Government answered in a force way, but to calm masses down General Ne Win officially retired from the leadership. From that period a process of political liberation has started. Compromises were found between military and opposition in 2011, and also, between governmental and the Karen National Union forces in 2012. Palestine case It seems the Palestine national conflict between Jews and Arabs won’t end this successfully in near future. A territory, which nowadays is mostly known as the State Palestine (with a limited recognition) had once experienced Roman Empire invasions, the Middle Age crusades, and had been in possession of Ottoman Empire for 400 years. Yet most brutal conflicts on these lands had started only in 20th century, and weren’t particularly directed against imperil government, but against each other. Unlike in Haiti, Madagascar and Burma cases, Palestine politic instability has nothing to do with governmental suppression, but takes its roots from ethno - religious war. “Palestinian-Israeli conflict is essentially a contest between two national identities that refuse to accept the validity and the rights of the other to exist” (Kamrava 233). Palestine never was only the Arab country: Jewish people had lived on Palestine lands already since 1300 BC (Bard 10). However, both sides had started the mass nationalistic movements only with the fall of Ottoman Empire, when most of subdued countries received a chance to proclaim their independence. From Jewish side it was a Zionic political movement (or Zionism) organized in 1897 to create a Jewish state around Jerusalem (Bard 18). From Arabic side, it was a movement for Palestine independence as the Muslim state. “Islam had served as one of the pivotal elements of Palestinian national identity” (Kamrava 230). Two nations with two different religious traditions were interested in one land. Political instability had started with Arab Revolt against Ottoman Empire (1916 – 1918). Palestinians believed the territory would be Arabic due to the role which Arabs played in Ottoman Empire falling, while Triple Entente, and particularly Britain had decided to form a state of Israel on Palestine lands, according to Balfour Declaration firstly (1917), and then in Mandate for Palestine (1920). A following wave of Jewish immigration on Palestine lands had caused a series of anti-Semitic bashings, forcing British police to intrude in 1921. A first armed Arab revolt swept the whole Palestine in 1936 – 1939 years, and now British were attacked along with Jewish. A St. James Conference mad the attempt to solve the conflict in a diplomatic way in 1939, but failed (Bard 43). A straight armed conflicted had stated in 1947, when Britain had pulled out its military forces from Palestine lands. Despite that UN Assembly proclaimed two independent states of Israel and Palestine with particular borders, no political and military stability was reached. Established in 1945, League of Arab States (among them Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and others) had first attacked Israel in a support of Palestinians. A conflict was becoming international. The First Arab-Israel War had started and lasted about a year. As the outcome, came a territory separation, particularly Israel had lost a Gaza strip. With no retirement, in 1950s there was a new series of spontaneous attacks on Israel, and the famous Suez Crisis had begun. Ten years later Israel was calling in for a general mobilization: constantly experiencing ethnic attacks and killings of Jews (about 37 only during 1967) had provoked Israel to start the Six-Days War (Bard 67). As a winner Israel took control over separated Gaza strip again, and over some other territories. Terroristic attacks had never stopped, including the most massive in June 1972 when Jews were killed in airport Lod, and mutual killings: of Israel sportsmen during Olympic Games in Munich and Palestinians killings by Israel intelligent agency. Later, in 1980 Syria and Lebanon involved themselves in a conflict more actively and started to bomb Israel state. Meanwhile, a radical organization Hamas has started its activity in Gaza strip in 1987, and helped Palestinians to resist Israel control upon Gaza (First Intifada). Up to the 21th century, the territory was shaking from constant Palestinian demonstrations and riots. Israel government was resisting in a force way. For all this time there was no political stability on Palestine lands. A constant war naturally had created bad conditions for state development. Other world countries had engaged themselves in a long period of diplomatic and military attempts to overcome the crises during 1990s and 2000s. Yet a new Palestinian War (2000 – 2005) had started and took lives of more than 2000 of Palestinians and more than 1000 of Israeli (Bard 260). Winning Gaza elections with absolute priority, Hamas has increased its terroristic activity, while Israel is answering with targeted airstrikes on Palestine, particularly on Gaza strip. The conflict stays unsolved. Conclusion Summing up all four case studies, we can make several conclusions. First, that a stable political system is essential for a country development. Each of four studied Third World countries have failed to build an independent state, with democratic rights and laws maintained and supported by a majority of population on national level. Secondly, a political historical past makes a great affection to a modern state of affairs in a country. It could be the inability to overcome a colonial experience, unsolved ancient ethnic and religious conflicts can be driven back to life, or etc., and only a clear democratic politics is able to resist. Third, whatever is a reason of political instability, it always causes brutal conflicts with amount of human sacrifices. If state is politically instable, it fails to protect own citizens from harm. Works Cited Bard, M. G. Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict. A I C E Publishing, 2011. Print. Coupeau, S. The History of Haiti. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2008. Print. Dillon, D. A Brief Political and Geographic History of Asia (Where Are Saigon, Kampuchea, and Burma?). Mitchell Lane Publishers Inc., 2010. Print. Heale, J. and Latif, Z. A. Madagascar. Marshall Cavendish Publishing, 2008. Print. Kamrava, M. The Modern Middle East: A Political History Since the First World War. University of California Press, 2005. Print. Read More