Reviewed by Jerome Teelucksingh
The University of the West Indies
The Journal of Haitian Studies, Vol. 12 No. 2 © 2006
Hyppolite Pierre provides a comprehensive study of Haiti for two centuries—1804 to 2004. In the acknowledgments, Pierre revealed that witnessing poverty during a visit to Haiti in 1998 was an underlying reason which prompted him to seek answers to the country's crisis. Undoubtedly, Haiti, Rising Flames From Burning Ashes is pivotal in understanding the crucial link between the past and the present. An obvious theme is the frequent comparisons between the personalities of the Haitian Revolution and twentieth century leaders. In this sociopolitical work there is emphasis on the element of continuity in Haiti's tainted political past, especially the inadequate leadership and hostility among the ethnic groups.
There are 25 relatively compact chapters grouped into three sections- "Power in Haiti: 1804-1915," "From 1915 On: Occupation and American Supremacy in Haiti" and "Reforming the State to Benefit the Nation." An apparent shortcoming in the book's layout is the existence of too many chapters. Probably some chapters could have been merged to ensure more coherence. Furthermore, the numerous subsections in chapters resulted in disjointed and abrupt ideas. Some relatively short sub-sections such as "Boyerism as Haiti's Political System" in Chapter 5 and "Different Kinds of Interest Groups" in Chapter 14 could have been merged with another sub-section.
Pierre focused on one of the previously overlooked institutions in the Haitian society—interests groups such as think tanks and neighborhood associations. Pierre contends that such non-governmental organizations have been branded as "irresponsible" and "worthless" but they have a crucial role in shaping ideas and policies of an administration. Certain organizations as the Groupe Croissance, an economic think-tank, have earned respect in the Haitian society. The challenge of these groups is obvious since "…civil society in Haiti is being defined through the very narrow prism of class and even political affiliation" (195).
From the work, it seems that violence is endemic in Haiti's history. Pierre in the Preface notes that the island's cycles of violence stemmed from the Haitian Revolution. This is reinforced in Chapter 1 with mention of the assassination of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, leader of Haiti, by co-conspirators Henri Christophe and Alexandre Pétion.
It can be argued that the culture of violence and political instability has a much earlier origin than the Haitian Revolution. The genocide of the indigenous peoples of Haiti by the incoming Spanish in the late 15th century Reviews: The Journal of Haitian Studies, Vol. 12 No. 2 © 2006 151 could be seen as the beginning of the irreversible cycles of violence.
In the analysis of the post-1946 era, Pierre argues that there was a continuation of the government's reliance on the army and violence to maintain control over the populace. This was particularly true during the reign of the blood-thirsty François Duvalier (Papa Doc) who terrorized citizens with the Tonton Macoutes. This military group was a parallel army who served the interests of Duvalier. This would haunt the rule of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the twice democratically-elected leader, who would be forced to demit office in 2004. Former British West Indian colonies such as Guyana and Grenada also endured corrupt and racist dictators like Forbes Burnham and Eric Gairy who used violence to intimidate the population.
More explanations and details were needed to reinforce Chapter 9 "The Rise of Violence and Incompetence: Haiti's Final Debacle 1956-2004." The author attempted to explain too large a portion of an era which was a significant transition for Haiti. For instance, the section on the relationship of Jean-Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc) with the United States in the 1970s and 1980s could have been expanded. Nevertheless the chapter revealed the hypocritical nature of François Duvalier as someone who initiated reforms, at least superficially.
This included his decision to remove barriers of color and allow all children access to the education system. However, Pierre contends, "With Duvalier, the nastiness of color politics reached its apex" (103). And, not surprisingly Duvalier married a light-skinned Haitian even though she belonged to a lower intellectual, social and economic category. In the sphere of religion, Duvalier had some impact. The high clergy of the Roman Catholic Church comprised Whites from abroad, but Duvalier ensured local Haitians would no longer be excluded from the religious hierarchy.
In Chapters 15 and 16, there is mention of the state of party politics during the 1990s and early 21st century, "Party leaders are leadocrats, ideological gurus with an answer to virtually every issue. Management of those parties is often inefficient, making it difficult for the party itself to make sustainable gains on the political landscape" (230). This is not a unique phenomenon of Haitian politics but also displayed in other Caribbean and Latin American countries with charismatic leaders. The author offered insight into a reason for the country's myriad of problems, "Political opportunism in Haitian politics is a way of viewing the world and dealing with issues in the moment, without adherence to principles or a sense of the consequences" (200). It is a logical explanation when one considers Haiti's fickle leaders and turbulent past. The need for political reform is important to attract meaningful assistance from external sources. In Chapter 24, there is emphasis on the potential of the country's recovery being linked to the support given by the Haitian diaspora.
Utilization of primary sources, such as Haitian newspapers, would have certainly enriched the author's analyses. Secondly, the inclusion of interviews 152 Reviews: The Journal of Haitian Studies, Vol. 12 No. 2 © 2006 especially from those who survived the treacherous Duvalier regimes would have complemented the author's arguments.
Chapters 22, "Empowering the People," and 23, "Culture, Politics and the Law in Haiti," provide optimism and solutions for a modern and lawful society. In Chapter 22, Pierre claimed "…it is only when power is distributed to account for individuals and organizations in the governing structure that Haiti will truly become a stable and confident nation" (304). Likewise, Pierre in Chapter 23 advised the government to offer incentives to persons who use Vodou in a positive manner, and he stressed the benefits of promoting a language which is quintessentially Haitian. Additionally, he rejects individualism and discusses the failure of multiculturalism in the country.
In retrospect, Haiti, Rising Flames From Burning Ashes is a seminal work, which dissects the country's embattled past and seeks answers to the complex sociopolitical and economic problems plaguing this developing nation. This fascinating historical work will be useful for policymakers, NGOs and those seeking to eradicate Haiti's problems.
