Haitian Refugee Crisis in Brazil: Local Reality Meets National Hospitality Iara Beekma Reis 4082621 Prof. dr. Gery Nijenhuis May 10 2016 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents............................................................................................................................................................2 List of Figures.................................................................................................................................................................5 List of Tables..................................................................................................................................................................6 List of Boxes...................................................................................................................................................................6 List of Abbreviations......................................................................................................................................................7 Acknowledgments...........................................................................................................................................................9 Summary.......................................................................................................................................................................10 1.Introduction................................................................................................................................................................11 2. Literatures and Theoretical Framework.....................................................................................................................13 2.1. International Migration.................................................................................................................................13 2.1.1. South-to-South Migration.....................................................................................................................14 2.2. Migration Typologies....................................................................................................................................15 2.2.1. Migrant versus Refugee.........................................................................................................................16 2.2.2. International Migration: From a Global and National Perspective towards a Local Standpoint ...................................................................................................................................................................18 2.2.3. The Role of Local Authorities and Capacity Development.....................................................................19 2.3. Decentralization: A Shift Towards Decentralization Policies...................................................................... 23 2.3.1. Defining Decentralization: ...................................................................................................................25 2.3.2. Political decentralization, Administrative and Fiscal Decentralization................................................26 2.3.3. Decentralization and Migration............................................................................................................29 2.4. Absorption capacity.......................................................................................................................................31 2.5. Integration as a Concept................................................................................................................................33 2.5.1. The Three Dimensions of Integration....................................................................................................38 2.5.2. The “Self - help system” ........................................................................................................................39 2.6. Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................................42 3. Thematic, regional, and local context ........................................................................................................................43 3.1 Haiti: An independent State Reliant on International Partners...................................................................... 43 3.1.1. Overview of Haiti ................................................................................................................................. 43 3.1.2. Haiti’s Shaky Political Situation and the Creation of MINUSTAH........................................................46 3.2. Brazilian Foreign Policy and its Footprint in the International Arena...........................................................46 3.2.1. Brazil Opens its Doors to Migrants......................................................................................................47 3.2.2. Brazil and its Pursuit to Obtain a Permanent Seat on the Security Council...........................................48 3.2.3. From Haiti to Brazil: Normative Regulations.......................................................................................49 3.3. Decentralization in Brazil..............................................................................................................................50 3.4. Research Questions .......................................................................................................................................51 3.5. Conceptual Model.........................................................................................................................................52 4.Methodology..............................................................................................................................................................55 4.1. Qualitative Methods ..............................................................................................................................................55 4.1.2. Interviews..............................................................................................................................................55 4.1.3. Participant Observation........................................................................................................................56 4.2. Limitations, Risks, and Advantages of the Research.......................................................................................58 2 4.3 Operationalization of Variables......................................................................................................................59 Findings ........................................................................................................................................................................63 5.1. The Haitian Migration to Brazil......................................................................................................................63 5.1.1. Haitian’s Expectations of Brazil........................................................................................................64 5.1.2. The Route: Unintended Consequences of Brazil’s Open Arms..........................................................66 5.1.3. Why Coyotes Lead the Way................................................................................................................71 5.2 Making it to the Promised Land.....................................................................................................................73 5.2.1. The Treacherous Route Continues Once in Brazil...............................................................................73 5.3 The Camp.......................................................................................................................................................76 5.3.1. The Rise of Informal Camps.................................................................................................................77 5.3.2. Inhumane Conditions for Migrants in Search of a Humanitarian Visa................................................78 5.3.3. The Administrative Structure of the Camp; Lack of Capacity Development.........................................82 5.3.4. The Line Up...........................................................................................................................................84 5.4 The Bitter Reality............................................................................................................................................87 5.4.1. From the Amazon to the South of Brazil: Private companies at the Refugee camp................................................................................................................................................................89 5.5. Conclusions....................................................................................................................................................93 6. Drawbacks and Benefits of International Migration on Brasiléia....................................................................95 6.1. Benefits of a Mass influx for Brasiléia..........................................................................................................95 6.1.1. Street Vendors and a Conglomeration of Clients...................................................................................95 6.1.2. Food at the Camp: Business for the Local Population...........................................................................96 6.1.3. The Rise