Dominican Republic and Haiti

This week (Week 6) we will read a different type of political analysis. The article offers a comparative analysis that helps look again at the two countries we have covered in depth so far: Haiti and Dominican Republic. The article relies on Democracy Studies and Comparative Politics type of analysis and frameworks,

Section A) Institutional Design and Political Culture

3) Elite Behavior: How does the behavior of the political and economic elites in both countries differ? Is Haitis instability a result of a “predatory state” mentality among its elite, or are they simply lacking the resources that the Dominican elite possess? Is this instability a product of its colonial past and neocolonial present?

Civil Society and Power: Sags argues that Haitian civil society only has leverage during crises. What structural barriers prevent Haitian social movements from translating “protest power” into “governing power” like their counterparts in the Dominican Republic?

The Impact of Intervention: Both nations have experienced significant international intervention (including US occupations). Why does Sags suggest that international aid and diplomacy seem to have “failed” in Haiti while helping solidify the status quo in the Dominican Republic?