Theories Of Conflict Winter 2014 Haiti: A Fragile State Kerlens Tilus Session 20- 03/12/2014 “A state structure established by outsiders often undermines the ability of domestic actors to create their own robust institutions”(Francis Fukuyama, ‘Stateness First’, Journal of Democracy 16/1 (2005),p. 85. ) WHY DOES FRAGILITY MATTER? There is increasing consensus that fragility matters. It matters because fragile states face specific challenges which, if left unaddressed, can pose a threat to their own people, their neighbours and those beyond, with costly consequences. They also present great opportunities, including human, socio-economic and natural capital, which could contribute to national, regional and global progress and prosperity. In general terms, the fragility of a state affects the ability of national, regional and international actors to ensure security, combat poverty and make progress toward other development goals. Today, a third of the world’s poor live in fragile states but this share could rise to half by 2018 and nearly two-thirds of the by 2030 (Chandy et al., 2013), and it is there that the most intractable forms of extreme poverty are likely to be concentrated. Fragility is a driver of national, regional and global instability. It discourages investment, economic growth, and job creation. It affects peoples’ resilience and the environment. Two of the visible consequences of fragility that spill over borders are uncontrolled migratory flows, including displacement of people, and the spread of violence through terrorism and illicit trade. Fragility also matters because of its economic cost. It has been estimated that a civil conflict costs the average developing country roughly 30 years of GDP growth, and that countries in protracted crisis can fall more than 20 percentage points behind in overcoming poverty. Similarly, trade levels after major episodes of violence have been shown to take 20 years to recover to pre-conflict levels (World Bank, 2011). Also, a country that is making progress in its own development is estimated to lose about 0.7% of GDP for each of its neighbours in conflict (World Bank, 2011). Definition of a fragile state A state that is unable to meet their population’s expectations or manage changes in expectations and capacity through the political process (OECD, 2008). “Those where the government cannot or will not deliver core functions to the majority of its people, including the poor”(DFID, 2005). Source: gsdrc.org/index.cfm?objectid=4D340CFC-14C2-620A-27176CB3C957CE79 Haiti: -The 28th world’s most aid-dependent country in 2007 and 14th in 2011 - CPA/GNI : 13.4% in 2011 Source: (oecd.org/dac/incaf/FSR-2014.pdf ) -Characteristics of a failed state Source: gsdrc.org/index.cfm?objectid=4D340CFC-14C2-620A-27176CB3C957CE79 -Human Development Indexes 2013 for Haiti Source: undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/HDR/2013GlobalHDR/English/HDR2013%20Report%20English.pdf -Vulnerability and Causes of Haiti Fragility 1- Causes of Vulnerability Historical Background: “Haiti: The Aftershocks of History, Laurent Dubois, Metropolitan Books, 2012)”. -Small Island Developping States (SIDS) -Economic openness not only exposes Haiti to outside economic conditions, but prevents the state from being able to protect and thus support the domestic economy. 2- Weak links/ Haitis fragility The basic functions of the modern state can be grouped around three areas: -Security: MINUSTAH, HNP -Representation:Executive, Legislative, Judiciary -Welfare or Public Goods Source: fride.org/descarga/ip_haiti_final_eng_mar10.pdf 3- Interaction State of Haiti and Civil Society Social Pact Political Pact Economic Pact The State of Haiti is unable and unwilling to provide public services to the haitian people due to lack of investment in both education and employment; investments which could in time be converted into production and ultimately state revenues.(FRIDE Report, March 2010) Sources: Haiti nexiste pas, Christophe Wargny, Nouvelle Edition, 2008 monde-diplomatique.fr/2013/07/WARGNY/49347 Alex Dupuy, The Prophet and Power: Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the International Community and Haiti (Plymouth: Rowman & Littlefi eld Publishers, 2007). Jean Bertrand Aristide, “Theology and Politics”, 1995. Leslie Pean, “Aux Origines de lEtat Marron, 2009” Justin Podur, “Haitis New Dictatorship”, 2012. 4- The extraverted state Internal politics External forces Corruption: Money laundering, drug traficking and kidnapping.(2014 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, the US State Department) The Role of the Haitian Diaspora Resisting Change: “The elite as an elephant sitting on Haiti”(Michele D. Pierre Louis) Video: youtube/watch?v=xNg6ZnvoMGQ Sources: Edmund Wade Davis, “Passage of Darkness, The Ethnobiology of the Haitian Zombie”, 1988. Laurent Dubois, “Haiti: The Aftershocks of History”, 2012. Robert Fatton Jr, “Haiti: Trapped in the outer periphery”, February 28th, 2014. Can Haiti be fixed and How? Overview of different U.N., OAS, CARICOM peacekeeking and stabilization missions in Haiti over the past 25 years. -Fight against corruption: Good Governance, capacity building -Endogenous development -Contribution of Civil Society -Role of the Haitian Diaspora -The future of consciousness Leslie Pean, Haiti: Economie politique de la corruption, Tome I to Tome IV. centerforfutureconsciousness Conclusion As Octavio Paz said wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. The former Prime Minister Paul Martin said in July 7, 2004 that “better governance within fragile, failing or failed states means building effective public institutions....We saw this in Haiti. Almost 10 years ago Canada, the United States and some other countries intervened to help restore the then-democratically elected president back into office who had been overthrown in a coup... The problem is that none of us, neither the States nor Canada nor France.... stayed long enough nor did we make the time and the effort that was required to build these institutions. So, 10 years later, here we are, back with the same problem and the same mess, but this time, we have to got to stay until the job is done properly.” Today, March 12th 2014, Haiti is still shambling in corruption and ineptocracy. The future generation will reap what the former generations have sown which are widespread corruption, money laundering, drug traficking, human rights abuses, security dilemma and intrastate conflicts. To paraphrase Emmeline Pankhurst, the haitian people have to free half of the human race, the women, so that they can help to free the other half. The Haitian people as a whole need to say that “the forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart.” (Kwame Nkrumah). The women population, the youths, the peasants and the Haitian Diaspora are the driving forces that can trigger positive change in Haiti. When and how the Haitian people will take the resolution to communicate effectively, reconcile the nation in the aim to alleviate the economic hardship, fight racism, political and cultural discrimination, and transition to an endogenous sustainable development? We dont know, but with the newly released reports in the United States about money laundering and drug traficking, and the strategic perspectives of Canada 2014 which announces the reduction of canadian aid to Haiti in the near future because of its failed state status and the unwillingness of his leaders to move in the other direction, they have to act now as time is running out. Other ressources: www4.carleton.ca/cifp/app/serve.php/1467.pdf www4.carleton.ca/cifp/app/serve.php/1407.pdf oecd.org/newsroom/aidtofragilestatesfocusonhaiti.htm Kerlens Tilus Conflict Resolution Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant at the University of Ottawa Graduate Student in Public and International Affairs(Diplomacy) Research Assistant At World Future Studies Foundation
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:55:01 +0000
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