Haiti

The world's first black-led republic and the first Caribbean state to achieve independence, Haiti's pride has been dented by decades of poverty, environmental degradation, violence, instability and dictatorship which have left it as the poorest nation in the Americas (BBC 2006r, par. 1). Haiti has never participated with any type of contribution in UN peacekeeping operations. Since May 2004, the United Nation Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has been present in Haiti, within the framework of the resolution 1529 of February 2004 of the Security Council, with the objective “to facilitate the continuation of a peaceful and constitutional political process and the maintenance of safety and stability in Haiti” (UN 2005a, par. 1). Similar to the countries analyzed above, the main reason for not contributing troops is Haiti’s internal political environment because political, judicial and security institutions have been driven by dictatorship, military intervention and instability, and remain extremely weak (EIU 2006s, 4).

Initial variables of the data collection process:

UN/UN peacekeeping policy reform
No record.

Perception of peacekeeping
No record.

Domestic political environment
Haiti’s political, judicial and security institutions have been driven by dictatorship, military intervention and instability, and remain extremely weak (Ibid.). Political structures are prey to personal ambition and factionalism among politicians, while the judicial system suffers from inadequate resources, inefficiency and corruption (Ibid.). This has turned Haiti into a country in need of peace operations, and it has affected the possibility for it to contribute troops. Fear of reprisal makes juries and witnesses unreliable, leading to both impunity and wrongful convictions (Ibid.). The largely dysfunctional justice system has produced a prison population in which, even before the politically motivated arrests in 2004, over 80% of detainees are detained awaiting trial (Ibid.).

Domestic economic environment
In this poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, 80% of the population lives in abject poverty, and natural disasters frequently sweep the nation (UN-Haiti 2006, par. 1).

Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming. Following legislative elections in May 2000, fraught with irregularities, international donors—including the US and EU—suspended almost all aid to Haiti. The economy shrank an estimated 1.2% in 2001, 0.9% in 2002, grew 0.4% in 2003, and shrank by 3.5% in 2004. Suspended aid and loan disbursements totaled more than $500 million at the start of 2003. Haiti also suffers from rampant inflation, a lack of investment, and a severe trade deficit. In early 2005 Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way to reengagement with the Bank. The resumption of aid flows from all donors is alleviating but not ending the nation's bitter economic problems. Civil strife in 2004 combined with extensive damage from flooding in southern Haiti in May 2004 and Tropical Storm Jeanne in northwestern Haiti in September 2004 further impoverished Haiti. (Ibid.)

The government of the president, René Préval, will enjoy strong support from the foreign governments and the multilateral agencies engaged in the country, as well as the goodwill, at least for the time being, of the majority of Haitians (EIU 2006bp, 2).

Military affairs
At the fall of Duvalier in 1986, the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd’H) numbered about 7,000 (EIU 2006s, 13). After the restoration of constitutional government in October 1994, the army (which included both military and police units) was reduced in strength and then completely disbanded in early 1995 (Ibid.). It was replaced by a new police force (Ibid.). But new challenges are ahead of Haiti’s defence forces. The main reason is because the police force has been chronically weak, and former soldiers have continued to be active players on the domestic political scene (Ibid.). Former soldiers and many political party leaders are calling for the re-establishment of the army (Ibid.).

Foreign policy
As the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with the worst indices of social deprivation, Haiti is heavily dependent on overseas aid (Ibid.). However, “political instability has disrupted relations with donors, and international aid has been suspended on a number of occasions” (Ibid.).

Additional variables found after the preliminary analysis:

Climate changes
No record.

Independent negotiations taken by DPKO to seek troops
No record.

Independent negotiations taken by contributor countries to engage non-contributor countries
No record.

Meetings organized by other international organizations to engage in dialogue about peacekeeping
No record.