Haiti has long been in a state of revolt, as far back as the colonial age. Since Haiti declared independence in 1804, the country has had no luck in maintaining a stable democracy. From funding militias of slave masters to embargoes from nearly every world power, and even forcing Haiti to pay billions of dollars in reparations to those slave owners, the country was never given a chance to develop. The geographic position and natural resources were also a lot of interest. Haiti is full of gold, bauxite (aluminum product), oil, fertile land, and is positioned in central Caribbean. Over the course of its history, five different world powers have tried to annex the country.
Haiti is considered a hybrid regime, their switch from authoritarian regime to democratic regime is still in transition. There are four characteristics that typically provide conditions for democratic backsliding (whether alone or paired) including polarization, racism/nativism, economic inequality, excessive executive power. We see examples of polarization during Duvalier’s presidency when upper class and upper middle-class citizens of Haiti were in agreeance with how Duvalier was running the country even though poor black masses were suffering because of it. Racism in the country started with the separation of Black people and “mulattos” which was still an issue in the country under Duvalier’s regime. Colorism in Haiti is started out a three-tiered social structure putting lighter skinned people at the top and darker skinned people at the bottom. In the middle were people called “freedman” who were the descendants of slave owners and slaves. Ritualistic skin bleaching to lighten one’s skin, brown paper bag tests to verify one’s skin tone. Economic inequality affected poor laborers in the country pushing them to leave their homes in rural areas and go to the cities. The cities become overpopulated, over polluted, and dangerous. Excessive executive power with Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude from 1957-1986. Keeping Duvalier in power for 29 years then passing the power down to his son rather than having a fair election when passing down the power breeds lots of corruption and erodes democracy. The current administration of Jovenel Moïse has brought about levels of corruption not seen since the end of the Duvalier regime in 1986. In 2019 there was an embezzlement of 1.459 billion Euros from an oil agreement with Venezuela, that was intended for developmental and infrastructural projects. Haitian businesspeople, the political class and the president himself are found to be involved. law enforcement in the country is corroded and criminal gangs take control; horrifying massacres are common in the country. In 2018, 71 people were killed in the massacre of La Saline, a destitute neighborhood of Port-au-Prince (the capital). Independent investigations have pointed out the connection of the government to the bloodbath, since then three similar atrocities have occurred. Today in 2021 Haiti faces the issue of displacement, they remain susceptible to natural disasters and tropical storms which destroy shelter for the people of the country. Rights to health, water, and food since the country’s more vulnerable communities continue to face environmental risks such as widespread deforestation an limited access to safe water and sanitation. A corrupt criminal justice system, the prison system is extremely overcrowded and many of the inmates are living in inhumane conditions. The overcrowding is due to the high number of arbitrary arrests. Illiteracy is a major problem and approximately 50% of all Haitians age 15 and older are illiterate. The quality of education is generally low and 85% of schools are run by private entities that charge school fees can become too expensive for low income families. There has been no accountability for the past abuses and no reparations to the country. Gender-based violence is a widespread problem; Haiti does not have specific legislation against domestic violence, sexual harassment, or other forms of violence targeted at women and girls. Among the survivors of the events that occurred in La Saline massacre are 11 women and girls were gang raped and received no medical support or counselling. People who identify as LGBT suffer high levels of discrimination; the Haitian senate has passed two anti-LGB