Lecture (1 hour inclusive of lecture and Q&A)
When U.S. marines landed in Haiti this January to establish martial law in the wake of a massive earthquake, it was not the first time American soldiers had controlled Haiti’s streets. It was in fact the fourth time in the past 100 years.
This lecture takes a broad look at Haiti, providing an overview of its violent and unstable history, the numerous U.S. and United Nations interventions that have sought to bring stability, and the forces that resist this.
This lecture is very multidisciplinary in nature, focusing on:
- Human and physical geography of Haiti
- The history of the country from colonial occupation to democratic state
- The politics of U.S. intervention through the Monroe Doctrine
- The economics behind development loans to Haiti
- The philosophy of nation building
- The role of the United Nations in international relations
For maximum benefit and skills development, students will be expected to take notes during the lecture. There will be a chance for questions and discussion of the issues raised at the end.
Seminar (1 hour)
The seminar session explores the concept of nation building in more detail using case studies from around the world. It examines successful efforts, such as post-war Germany and Japan, less successful efforts, such as those undertaken in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo, and finally the ongoing effort in Afghanistan.
Students will examine sources from both supporters and opponents of both the philosophy and implementation of nation building, as well as making their own assessment of the success of nation building through analyses of social and economic statistics.
In addition, students will debate the role and effectiveness of the United Nations in aid efforts.
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