Haiti: Hope for a Fragile State

Preface

This study of contemporary Haiti, ably edited by Yasmine Shamsie and Andrew Thompson, derives from a conference on Haiti as a fragile state held at the Centre for International Governance Innovation(cigi) in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The sponsors were cigi, the Centre for Foreign Policy at the University of Waterloo, the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies (lcmsds), and the Academic Centre for United Nations Studies (acuns). The last two institutions are associated with Wilfrid Laurier University whose press has published this book with remarkable speed and professionalism. The Haiti conference followed an earlier conference on Afghanistan that explored the Canadian experience in those two troubled countries.We began with the premise that the current Canadian emphasis on the so-called three “Ds”—development, democracy, and diplomacy—required detailed examination in specific cases of Canadian involvement in fragile states. To that end we sought to combine groups who do not normally “conference” together but who have had direct experience “on the ground.”We therefore invited donor agencies and the many non-governmental organizations (ngos) who know those agencies so well. We asked leading academics to comment on the historical , social, and political evolution of the countries.We also asked the Canadian military which has taken part in missions to Haiti several times over the last generation and which has more recently undertaken major missions to Afghanistan.We believe that the blend of the three“Ds”has given our conferences a distinct quality. ix Preface 0_shamsie-thompson_fm.qxd 2006/04/11 10:59 AM Page ix This book reflects that distinctiveness in that it avoids the political debates about Jean-Bertrand Aristide that dominate so many conferences and current writings about Haiti. Its focus is the society itself, the sources of difference , the origins of violence, and the possibility of change. The authors know Haiti well, whether as residents, academic analysts, non-governmental activists, and, not least, soldiers who tried to establish the stability that has proven so elusive. We were particularly impressed by the military contribution to the conference and book because we believe it offers a perspective seldom shared with a broader audience or reflected in the media. The editors are optimistic about Haiti’s future despite the abundant evidence of the fragility of the Haitian state. The authors similarly possess hope as well as many fears. cigi and the lcmsds are working to extend our analyses of what makes states fragile and what response international institutions and national governments should make to the challenge that fragility presents to international peace and stability. We intend to hold conferences and publish similar papers dealing with other states as well as the general question of what puts states “at risk.” The superb work done by the editors of this book and the talented conference organizer Katherine Sage-Hayes has established a high standard for our future efforts.We commend them for their excellence. Terry Copp John English x | PREFACE 0_shamsie-thompson_fm.qxd 2006/04/11 10:59 AM Page x ...