The Republic of Haiti can be called one the worst failed states in the world. Perhaps it is the most failed nation on the planet. Even the Democratic Republic of Congo is more stable compared to Haiti. This Caribbean nation has a long history of oppression caused by western imperialism and brutal capitalist dictators. Today the country has no government and no parliament. Criminal gangs control huge parts of the country as the police and military are too corrupt and inferior to stop them!
Hispaniola: from colonialism to imperialism
Haiti was a French colony on the island of Hispaniola from 1625 until 1804. The Haitian War of Independence lasted 12 long years, but resulted in the defeat of French colonialism. However the leaders of the revolution never wanted to give power to ordinary people. Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared himself Emperor of Haiti, he was killed only two years later. This left the country in a power vacuum that resulted in civil wars and foreign interventions. On the other side of the island, Spanish imperialism controlled 2/3 of Hispaniola and was forced to abandon its colony there in 1821, this became the First Dominican Republic. Haiti on the most western part of Hispaniola descended into chaos as many states and governments failed to provide stability.
Weakened by their struggle against Spanish imperialism, the leaders of the First Dominican Republic surrendered their young nation back into the hands of the imperialists. This shows us that these so called ’’revolutionaries’’ from the ruling class never cared about genuine independence. The Captaincy General of Santo Domingo lasted until 1865 when Spain finally left the Dominican Republic. American imperialism would take its place and showed the Dominicans that they were their new white masters. The imperialists from Washington DC invaded in 1916 and made sure the Dominican Republic became a loyal puppet of the USA.
The Failed Unification of Hispaniola
Jean-Pierre Boyer was the second President of Haiti after Jean-Jacques Dessalines was killed. However like Dessalines, could only rule with the support from the capitalist establishment. He was able to reunite the island of Hispaniola in 1821, but was forced to pay France a ransom for the lost slaves. This show us that capitalist leaders like Boyer not only served the needs of the local capitalist class, they also served the needs of western imperialism. Jean-Pierre Boyer ignored calls for a parliamentary democracy and free elections, he kept ruling as a dictator for over 25 years until 1843, when military leader Charles Rivière-Hérard forced him out of office.
Many army officers took the officer of President (Dictator). Few lasted longer then one or a few years. Faustin Soulouque tried to restore the Empire of Haiti in 1849, his empire lasted ten years. The Dominican Republic was annexed back into the hands of Spanish imperialism by its own capitalist leaders, only to be made independent again after 1865. Many bourgeoisie government came and went, with no one offering workers and poor anything but empty promises. As no Haitian government was stable, American imperialism decided in 1915 to protect its interests by invading and occupying the whole island of Hispaniola.
American imperialist occupation
The invasion and occupation of Hispaniola by the United States of America was a product of racism and capitalism. Greedy American capitalists feared that they could lose their assets in Haiti/ Dominican Republic if a potential revolutionary government would take power. European imperialism was weakened by the First World War, meaning that the USA had full freedom to play imperialist overlord over Caribbean America. Haitian president Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was friendly to the USA, but ruled as a brutal dictator. After he ordered the execution of 150 political prisoners, the people of Port-au-Prince rose up. Dictator Sam was dragged out of the French embassy and murdered in the streets.
U.S President Woodrow Wilson decided to invade, to make sure the assets of American capitalists were protected. The U.S Navy was told to land in Port-au-Prince to protect American and western interests. Wilson also wanted to rewrite the Constitution of Haiti, to turn its whole financial sector under the control of the USA. To avoid criticism, the imperialist president claimed that American troops only invaded to protest ’’law and order’’. The USA ruled over Haiti until 1934. After that date the white Americans were ensured by the Haitian capitalist class, that their politicians would forever serve the interests of Washington DC.
The rise of the François Duvalier
During the American occupation, black nationalism rose among the youth of Haiti. They saw the racism and injustice of the white Americans, who occupied their country in the name of ’’law and order’’ while stealing their wealth. François Duvalier was raised during the occupation. He entered politics by the 1940’s and claimed to stand against racism and the fact that many Haitian leaders were just puppets of American imperialism. He won the initial support of poor workers due to his opposition to imperialism. This resulted in him becoming president of the country by 1957. However like Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Duvalier had no interest in liberation for black workers. As with any capitalist Haitian leader, Duvalier only cared about himself.
After becoming president, François Duvalier became a despotic ruler who enrich himself, his family and a small capitalist elite. Because he knew the military could overthrow him, the tyrant created a special militia, the Militia of National Security Volunteers. Duvalier restored the flag and colours of the first Empire of Haiti in 1964, this was a clear sign that he wanted to rule as emperor unopposed. John F. Kennedy reduced the aid to Haiti because of the brutal Duvalier regime, but after his own assassination the USA became very friendly to the tyrant of Haiti.
Friend of American imperialism against ’’communism’’
After JFK was murdered, the USA resumed all political and financial aid to the Duvalier regime. Because François Duvalier was deeply anti-communist, he was seen as part of the ’’free world’’ by the hypocrites in the White House. In Haiti, fear and oppression ruled. Members of the brutal: Militia of National Security Volunteers were free to murder and plunder. Duvalier himself also plundered millions in U.S aid money meant for Haiti. He was a true kleptomaniac like Mobutu of Congo. In line with other dictators, a massive cult of personality was build, which was able to produce support among some sections of the working class due to the pseudo-populism of the Duvalier regime.
The propaganda of the regime called François Duvalier, Papa Doc. It was said that Papa Doc was one with Jesus Christ and God himself. Pseudo-populism always showed François with dark sunglases, which he wore on porpuse. His extreme cult of personalty also prepraed a family dynasty. Jean-Claude Duvalier was made ready to succed his father as the next absolute leader. Jean-Claude was named Baby Doc for youth and François Duvalier got the name Papa Doc. Old Papa Doc finally died on 21 April 1971, seven days after his 64th birthday. Baby Doc at age 19 was made absolute ruler of the Duvalier dynasty.
Baby Doc, the second Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier grew up in wealth and privilage. But at age 19, he cared little for politics and gave a lot of power to his corrupt advisors and his elitist mother. Poverty and inequality grew massively during his regime as Baby Doc enjoyed wealth and luxury, while millions suffered poverty. Meanwhile the totalitarian state made sure that any criticism of the government was crushed with brutal force. All this with the support from the USA, who kept supporting Baby Doc with millions of dollars each year.
Because Baby Doc was a playboy and no politician, his mother Simone got a lot of power. She shared duel power with Luckner Cambronne, the interior minister of François Duvalier. This Luckner Cambronne was called the”Vampire of the Caribbean” for his profiting from the sale of Haitian blood and cadavers to western pharmaceutical capitalists. Simone Duvalier resented the fact that she lost her power after 1980, when her playboy son married Michèle Bennett, a woman who as First Lady was now the most powerful woman of the regime.
Downfall in the 1980’s
The Duvalier dynasty would not have survived that long, had western imperialism not supplied it with millions in financial aid each year. Washington DC is to blame for the suffering and poverty of the Haitian working class and not just for supporting the Duvalier regime. Western banks allowed corrupt leaders to store millions there, while the working class lacked the basic needs for human survival. Jean-Claude Duvalier started to lose power after the working class slowly had enough of Baby Doc and his elitist family. A revolt started in October 1985 that spread to six more Haitian cities. Despite some desperate moves, none came to the aid of Jean-Claude who lost power in just a few months time.
Ronald Reagan decided to dump his Duvalier allies. Fearing for a revolution that could hurt American interests in Haiti, he called on Jean-Claude Duvalier to leave the nation. He was not welcome in the USA, but the Reagan administration did help him flee Haiti on 7 February 1986. Jean-Claude was able to live in exile in luxury, France gave him protection and allowed him to keep his stolen money that was kept in French banks. By 2007, Baby Doc was out of money and forced to live as an ordinary person. He returned to Haiti in 2011 and was arrested there. Jean-Claude died before he could face trial for corruption at the age of 63. Just like his father, Jean-Claude died of a hearth attack.
Struggling under neoliberalism as a failed nation
The Republic of Haiti has never recovered from the abuses of U.S occupation, the Duvalier regime and failed political leadership since 1986. In the 1990’s and 2000’s, no government was able to provide a genuine alternative to the poverty and injustice caused by capitalism. Neoliberalism was imposed as the IMF demand privatization and deregulation, before any financial aid was given. Capitalist governments came and went, all promised change and none were able to deliver. In 2010 a massive earthquake destroyed much of Haiti and killed over 160.000 people. Even after 14 years, many still suffer due to the fact that there is no effective government to help the poor.
Due to the absence of functioning state, people are forced to look after themselves. Corruption and crime are rampaging. This is not uncommon in capitalist societies, but in Haiti we see what a genuine failed capitalist state looks like. Criminal gangs grew massive in numbers after 2010 as there is no effective police force to protect people from criminals. Crime is also lucrative for those who have nothing. Reality remains that under capitalism, the Republic of Haiti has no future. This has proven with the fact that as of 2024, there is no elected parliament, no government and no president.
A socialist alternative is the only solution
In 2021, a criminal gang murdered Jovenel Moïse in his own house. Jovenel Moïse was the last elected President of Haiti. Like all capitalist president before him, Moïse claimed a lot and failed to provide. The murder of Moïse resulted in a complete collapse of the remaining elements of the Republic of Haiti. Ariel Henry was made Acting President, but he too could not stop the collapse of Haiti. Criminal gangs are in full control of large parts of the country, killing themselves and others for scraps. The wealthy are fleeing, while the majority of poor are trapped in a country that is now ruled by gangs.
Foreign powers including the USA wish for a transitional government to be set up. We revolutionary socialists know that such a government will be weak and unable to solve the problems of working class people. What is needed is a revolutionary workers party on a socialist program. A party that can organize workers and poor into an army of the working class, to fight the criminal gangs and carry out a socialist revolution. There can be no trust in any foreign installed ’’provisional government’’. Workers of Haiti do not need another puppet of American imperialism. They need a socialist government that set’s up a workers state, that nationalizes the means of production under democratic control!
Haitian workers have suffered immensely. Capitalism and imperialism are to blame for this. This is why we say that socialism is the only alternative. But not just socialism in Haiti, democratic socialism needs to be build up in the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean nations. Because socialism cannot be build up in one country alone. It needs to be build internationally because capitalism is an international system. A socialist Haiti can become a beacon of inspiration for Caribbean and Latin American workers, to set up states of their own and finally a socialist federation of all America.
Travayè ayisyen, ou pa gen anyen pou pèdi men chenn yo, ou gen mond pou genyen!
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