Th is book is one of the fi rst ever published on Haiti after the catastrophic Earthquake of January 12 2010. In Haiti:Th e Refoundation of a Nation we are introduced to the fruit of the authors long refl ection and diligent research on the nature of the Haitian state and its diffi cult evolution through more than two hundred years of history. In it, the author believes that Haitis errors began as far back as 1804, and therein lies the primary reason for its troubles. Th e state has unwittingly underdeveloped the country, thus any solution will inevitably work via the reconstruction eff orts of the state and contribute to the development, at last, of the Nation. Th e earthquake of January 12, 2010, that destroyed Port-au-Prince and all physical symbols of governance within, added to the already existing concept of reconstruction of the Haitian state not only institutional applications, but now also a physical, infrastructural aspect; crafting the state and also rebuilding its house. As it relates to infrastructure, Dr. Pauyo relies on the recommendations of experienced planners, geologists, architects and other scientifi c experts. He believes that it is time we learn to trust these scientists, those with knowledge and experience, and not amateurs or self-taught builders. Despite the challenges posed by the monstrous physical and institutional ruins of January 12th, Pauyos work is a bold endeavor towards discovery. Haiti must fl ush out the erroneous tracks leading her nowhere. Her sons and daughters, welded with the international community, must pave new paths for the full development of this country, and the emergence of a just society and a proud nation!

Works exploring the responses of global mountain communities to the shared challenges and opportunities their unique locations afford them. No matter where they are located in the world, communities living in mountain regions have shared experiences defined in large part by contradictions. These communities often face social and economic marginalization despite providing the lumber, coal, minerals, tea, and tobacco that have fueled the growth of nations for centuries. They are perceived as remote and socially inferior backwaters on one hand while simultaneously seen as culturally rich and spiritually sacred spaces on the other. These contradictions become even more fraught as environmental changes and political strains place added pressure on these mountain communities. Shifting national borders and changes to watersheds, forests, and natural resources play an increasingly important role as nations respond to the needs of a global economy. The works in this volume consider multiple nations, languages, generations, and religions in their exploration of upland communities’ responses to the unique challenges and opportunities they share. From paintings to digital mapping, environmental studies to poetry, land reclamation efforts to song lyrics, the collection provides a truly interdisciplinary and global study. The editors and authors offer a cross-cultural exploration of the many strategies that mountain communities are employing to face the concerns of the future. “Global Mountain Regions is an outstanding addition to the inventory of the interdisciplinary field of montology, the study of mountains. For any scholar or student interested in the human dimensions of mountain regions, many if not all of the essays will be valuable references.” —American Ethnologist

Despite Haiti's proximity to the United States, and its considerable importance to our own history, Haiti barely registered in the historic consciousness of most Americans until recently. Those who struggled to understand Haiti's suffering in the earthquake of 2010 often spoke of it as the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, but could not explain how it came to be so. In recent years, the amount of scholarship about the island has increased dramatically. Whereas once this scholarship was focused on Haiti’s political or military leaders, now the historiography of Haiti features lively debates and different schools of thought. Even as this body of knowledge has developed, it has been hard for students to grasp its various strands. Haitian History presents the best of the recent articles on Haitian history, by both Haitian and foreign scholars, moving from colonial Saint Domingue to the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. It will be the go-to one-volume introduction to the field of Haitian history, helping to explain how the promise of the Haitian Revolution dissipated, and presenting the major debates and questions in the field today.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti’s capital on January 12, 2010 will be remembered as one of the world’s deadliest disasters. The earthquake was a tragedy that gripped the nation-and the world. But as a disaster it also magnified the social ills that have beset this island nation that sits squarely in the United States’ diplomatic and geopolitical shadow. The quake exposed centuries of underdevelopment, misguided economic policies, and foreign aid interventions that have contributed to rampant inequality and social exclusion in Haiti. Tectonic Shiftsoffers a diverse on-the-ground set of perspectives about Haiti’s cataclysmic earthquake and the aftermath that left more than 1.5 million individuals homeless. Following a critical analysis of Haiti’s heightened vulnerability as a result of centuries of foreign policy and most recently neoliberal economic policies, this book addresses a range of contemporary realities, foreign impositions, and political changes that occurred during the relief and reconstruction periods. Analysis of these realities offers tools for engaged, principled reflection and action. Essays by scholars, journalists, activists, and Haitians still on the island and those in the Diaspora highlight the many struggles that the Haitian people face today, providing lessons not only for those impacted and involved in relief, but for people engaged in struggles for justice and transformation in other parts of the world.

In early 2009, at the start of a new administration in Washington, the Brookings Institution Press published The Obama Administration and the Americas: Agenda for Change, offering a roadmap for a fresh approach to U.S. relations with its neighbors. Now, at the midway point of that presidential administration, the editors of that insightful volume follow up with Shifting the Balance: Obama and the Americas, an authoritative and critical look at what President Obama and his team have done in regard to Latin America and the Caribbean, how they have been received in the region, and what steps should be taken in the future.

Haiti Between Pestilence and Hope: The Progressive Ideals from the Revolution of 1804 Set the Pace brilliantly presents Haiti's entire socio-political and economic history with poignant analysis into a mere eight chapters. From the relatively peaceful and stable pre-colonial period, to the illustrious independence victory, and concluding with Haiti’s current struggles. This book offers unique assistance with understanding Haiti's political instability, social discords, and economic woes without falling into bias theory. It relates the story of a valiant, resilient, creative, imaginative, and mysterious people with objectivity. Above all, it not only diagnoses Haiti's problems but also goes deep into the root causes of those problems and proposes solutions to resolve them and build a better future for Haiti. No matter who you are, young or old, native Haitian or not, a student or professional interested in real knowledge about Haiti, this book is for you. Whether you are a decision-maker or simply interested in Haiti's affairs, you will learn about Haiti’s challenges both past and present, and its hope for the future.

A passionate and insightful account by a leading historian of Haiti that traces the sources of the country's devastating present back to its turbulent and traumatic history Even before the 2010 earthquake destroyed much of the country, Haiti was known as a benighted place of poverty and corruption. Maligned and misunderstood, the nation has long been blamed by many for its own wretchedness. But as acclaimed historian Laurent Dubois makes clear, Haiti's troubled present can only be understood by examining its complex past. The country's difficulties are inextricably rooted in its founding revolution—the only successful slave revolt in the history of the world; the hostility that this rebellion generated among the colonial powers surrounding the island nation; and the intense struggle within Haiti itself to define its newfound freedom and realize its promise. Dubois vividly depicts the isolation and impoverishment that followed the 1804 uprising. He details how the crushing indemnity imposed by the former French rulers initiated a devastating cycle of debt, while frequent interventions by the United States—including a twenty-year military occupation—further undermined Haiti's independence. At the same time, Dubois shows, the internal debates about what Haiti should do with its hard-won liberty alienated the nation's leaders from the broader population, setting the stage for enduring political conflict. Yet as Dubois demonstrates, the Haitian people have never given up on their struggle for true democracy, creating a powerful culture insistent on autonomy and equality for all. Revealing what lies behind the familiar moniker of "the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere," this indispensable book illuminates the foundations on which a new Haiti might yet emerge.