City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works Dissertations and Theses City College of New York 2011 Haitian Diaspora Impact on Haitian Socio-Political and Economic Development Sharleen Rigueur CUNY City College How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/51 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] Haitian Diaspora Impact on Haitian Socio-Political and Economic Development Sharleen Rigueur June 2011 Master’s Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Master of International Affairs at the City College of New York Thesis Advisor: Professor Juergen Dedring Abstract.......................................................................................................................................4 Chapter 1: Introduction.........................................................................................................6 Topic ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Justification/Rationale ................................................................................................................... 7 Thesis..................................................................................................................................................11 Theoretical Framework / Literature Review........................................................................11 Research Design..............................................................................................................................24 Variables .......................................................................................................................................................... 26 Methodology................................................................................................................................................... 26 Chapter Outline............................................................................................................................................. 27 Chapter 2: Relevant Historical Overview ..................................................................... 29 Haiti.....................................................................................................................................................29 The Colony ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 The Revolution .............................................................................................................................................. 31 American Occupation ................................................................................................................................. 37 The Duvalier Regime.....................................................................................................................39 Phase One ........................................................................................................................................................ 39 Phase Two ....................................................................................................................................................... 40 Phase Three .................................................................................................................................................... 41 Haitian Diaspora (1960s – Present).........................................................................................42 Chapter 3: Haitian Diaspora in the United States ...................................................... 46 Remittances: The Economic Impact on Haiti ........................................................................50 Migrant Organizations and Associations................................................................................53 2 Professional Associations and Church Organizations.................................................................. 55 Political Organization within the US ........................................................................................58 Haitian Diaspora Political Outlet through Media ........................................................................... 61 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................................... 62 Chapter 4: Haitian Diaspora Impact on Haiti: WhY the impact is not working? ..................................................................................................................................................... 65 Haitian Diaspora impact on Post-Duvalier transition .......................................................67 Haitian Diaspora impact on Civil SocietY ...............................................................................72 Haitian Diaspora and the United States..................................................................................75 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................................... 78 Chapter 5: Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 79 Recommendations..........................................................................................................................82 Afterthoughts...................................................................................................................................84 BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................................................................................................... 86 Appendices.............................................................................................................................. 90 Appendix 1: Map: Republic of Haiti ..........................................................................................90 Appendix 2: Total and Haitian Foreign Born Populations, 1960 to 2008 [Table]....91 Appendix 3: Remittances Profile: Haiti...................................................................................92 3 Abstract There is a new perspective developing within the international community on Diasporas and their potential to assist in the development process of their country of origin. The discussion began from the realization that transnational flows of remittances from sending countries (core) to receiving countries (periphery) increasingly surpass donor contributions to developing countries. The argument further discusses different socio-economic strategies to use when diasporic communities residing in developed countries (core) are assisting their homeland (periphery). This paper will look at the Haitian Diaspora in the United States and its active transnational link to Haiti. Since the days of post-Duvalierism, the Haitian Diaspora has actively participated in the developmental process of the country. Remittances are no longer the only way in which the Haitian diaspora assists. Seemingly there has been an increase in transnational activity via political and socio-economic organizations and associations. However, the addition of the Haitian Diaspora as a major force in Haiti’s development process (as seen in the last 10 years) is uncertain. It is doubtful because the divided social structure of Haitian history, has transplanted into Haitian diasporic communities. The social construct of Haitian émigrés in the United States and their active role in politics and social-development affects the Haitian democratic and developmental process. 4 Looking at how the Haitian Diaspora political and non-political organizations and associations operate, it becomes apparent that the fractured social class structure within the diaspora is divided by socio-economic status. Although a unified Haitian Diaspora has proven to be a strong lobby (i.e., swaying American policy and collective remittance contributions) the factions that exist beyond that have implications on sustaining the efforts taken on by the diaspora. 5 Chapter 1: Introduction Topic In 1990, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide called upon the “tenth department” to help rehabilitate Haitian development beyond remittances. Since then, what has the impact of the Haitian Diaspora on Haiti’s development been like? Has that impact fared positively or negatively in Haitian development? Although the Haitian Diaspora heeded Aristide’s request in the early 1990’s to assist in Haiti’s development beyond remittances, its participation and contributions have impacted Haitian development negatively. This negative impact is evident in two ways: 1) The fragmentation in class structure that existed and exists in Haiti today has been transplanted into the Haitian Diaspora society within the United States, and 2) This fragmentation can be seen in the way in which organizations and associations of the Haitian Diaspora are created and interact. An explanatory analysis of the social construct of Haitian émigrés in the United States will clarify why this group has negatively affected Haitian development. This analysis will concentrate on the Haitian contemporary diaspora (foreign-born) - those who began migrating to the United States in the