Can Haiti Be Saved?

On 2 October 2023, the United Nations Security Council authorised the creation of a major new police mission for Haiti. Led by Kenya and designed to halt the epidemic of gang violence sweeping the country's capital, it will mark yet another major UN mission to try stabilising a failed state descending into anarchy and lawlessness. But can this new operation really succeed?

Haiti has a long and troubled history. Having achieved independence in 1804 following a slave revolt against France, it became only the second sovereign state in the Americas. However, from the start, it faced huge difficulties. This continued into the 20th century when it came under US military rule for almost two decades. Then from 1957-1986, it fell under the dictatorial rule of the Duvaliers, "Papa Doc" and "Baby Doc". Although it elected a new president in 1990, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, he was soon ousted from power. And while he was eventually returned to office, he was forced out again in 2004. As the country descended into lawlessness, the UN established a presence (MINUSTAH and MINJUSTH) until 2019. However, since its departure, the country has again collapsed, this time under the weight of horrific gang violence. Against this backdrop, the UN has now authorised a new force. To be led by a thousand police officers from Kenya, it will try to restore law and order. But the mission is controversial, and many wonder whether it can really fix Haiti's serious problems.

*MY NEW BOOK!*
Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know

*SUPPORT THE CHANNEL*
Hello and welcome! My name is James Ker-Lindsay, and here I take an informed look at International Relations, conflict, security, and statehood. If you like what you see, feel free to subscribe. If you want more, including exclusive content and access to the channel Discord server, please consider becoming a Channel Member or support me through Patreon. I would greatly appreciate your support. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
JOIN MY PATREON PAGE

*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Start
00:44 Failed States in International Politics
01:44 Key Information about Haiti
02:26 The Emergence of Haiti
04:21 Haiti: From Independence to US Military Rule
05:48 The Duvalier Dictatorship and After
08:39 The Emergence of Gang Violence in Haiti
10:35 The New UN Security Mission for Haiti
12:54 Can the UN Help Haiti?

*SOURCES AND FURTHER READING*
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti | MINUSTAH
The United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti | MINUJUSTH

*EQUIPMENT USED TO MAKE THIS VIDEO*

*MAPS USED IN THIS VIDEO*

*DISCLAIMERS*
- The contents of this video and any views expressed in it were not reviewed in advance nor determined by any outside persons or organisation.
- Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel and will be at no additional cost to you.

#Haiti #Kenya #UnitedNations

[JamesKerLindsay]

The worsening situation in Haiti has received relatively little international media attention. However, the UN has just authorised a major new force to tackle the gang warfare that is devastating the country. But after the previous UN missions to the country, do you think it can hope to succeed? As ever, let me know your thoughts and comments below.

[ianshaver]

“Moscow argued that sending a military force to a country must be thought through, especially when it doesn’t have a clear mandate.”

Russia sure learned that lesson the hard way.

[clumsydentist]

I've done only a short stint in Haiti but I learned that the extreme poverty most haitians live in changes their outlook on the world in such a fundamental way that a lot of people become unable to adapt to a western mindset. Any effort to seriously help Haiti must be multi generational.

The other thing to look at when talking about crime in particular is the role Haiti plays in the trafficing of drugs to the US. This is a very niche topic and not very well covered (as haiti is in general) but the amounts of cocaine and heroin moving though Haiti towards the US are fairly large and they do drive internal problems.

[Todd.B]

I don't see it succeeding because this appears to be a short-term solution with no long-term plan. They may very well reduce the amount of violence in the country but without a long-term plan as soon as they leave, the country goes right back to the chaos. We have seen this numerous times in different places.

[namesknow]

I feel so bad for Haiti and the Haitian people. They can't just seem to catch a break

[Asamations]

Loved those map animations James! :) Keep up the great work. I didn't even know about this. I am so busy carefuly studying and making a video about Gaza and Israel.

[Flirtinwithdisaster]

James,

As always, thanks for the amazing content. Currently I’m working alongside the state department as diplomatic security. The situation is just as bad as you have described. I have a lot of colleagues who are there at the US Embassy in Port-Au-Prince now. The embassy is constantly shot at by gangs. Among our circle, it is seen as easily the most volatile Embassy in the western hemisphere.

[hrishikeshmasurkar]

Very informative video, thank you professor Ker Lindsay!

[TheLocalLt]

Before I get into my comment, you deserve props for the continual upgrades in production quality, the new map animations are fantastic!

To the issue at hand, Haiti. Overall my feeling is that this situation is so dire that if the world isn’t paying attention now, they will eventually be forced to pay attention when this starts to affect them directly.

Having a defacto gang-run state right in the middle of the Caribbean is a major security risk for the entire region, and threatens to turn the country into a haven for cartels, pirates, terrorists, etc.

That said, as you’ve laid out it’s totally unclear what can actually be done at the moment. No players with a true capacity to make a difference are planning to get involved, especially not with the current geopolitical situation.

To my mind, the most important thing Kenya can do is to behave respectfully and professionally, helping to restore the credibility of the UN after the scandal-ridden previous mission. It also feels like an important moment for the Armed Forces of Kenya, a country that has positioned itself as a bastion of stability and growing regional power. But as you pointed out, are 4, 000 gendarmerie enough to seriously tackle any of Haiti’s current problems? Probably not, but if they can at least establish something positive it can hopefully be a foundation to build on in future missions.

Thanks as always for the video professor!

[EricZucchini]

Loved the introduction through a globe map in 1:45. Really helps keep in localizing the country! Maybe if some well known places were marked too would be nice.

[aaronjones]

It would make more sense to establish a Japanese-led reconstruction force to harden the infrastructure against earthquakes, and I would think any UN force would have an easier time if they were native French speakers.

[MrPerdeci]

I truly enjoy your posts. Thank you for all the insights.

[vladadjo]

Great video, James: I have already informed my students at a human rights course I am teaching to address it as the source of additional information regarding the case at hand. Stay well!

[jimjohnston]

As always a factual explanation of something that most people don’t really understand. I don’t envy the Kenyan police taking on this task. I wish the best for all concerned.

[CedarHunt]

I remain very skeptical that this latest effort will succeed.

[lindamkhontozwane]

Great content Prof James I am a huge fan of your content from South Africa, I wish you could do a lecture on how its BRICS membership and its close ties with Russia and China is affecting its political and social stability 👏🏿🔥

[fons_ssb]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos!

[oldgreybeard]

Beijing raised concerns. That has to be a lighter interlude in a video of a catastrophe. Moscow 'sending a military force to a country has to be thought through' - that has to be worth a belly laugh.

[LondonSteveLee]

Haiti is the perfect example that cultures create countries that reflect the dominant culture. Haiti and Australia are about the same age - one was formed from freed African slaves, one was formed of British/Irish and European flotsam/convicts - or those just guilty of no more than being poor. Both are rich in minerals (Haiti actually has a slightly high density of mineral wealth) - but look at the outcomes of 250 years of independence - where would you rather live? Some cultures create and some cultures create poverty and misery. Trace the people back to their ancestral homelands and you see the exact same outcomes. When is the world going to admit not all cultures can sustain what we'd regard as egalitarian, successful societies? People are just people - it's culture that defines what groups of people and their habitat become. When European people are history through displacement, the "nice" countries they build will go with them - lumps of land do not have a culture or values - people do.

[Catmint]

I think this conflict kinda shows the fine line between gangs and some political movements. I’m not trying to sound like an anarchist here and claim all states are gangs, but if one of those gangs simply took up a political cause liked by a powerful foreign power the situation could change drastically. Plenty of legitimate resistance groups have engaged in what we’d refer to as gang activity, but we keep them as separate entities in our heads because of their overall goals. I’m honestly shocked none of the gangs have attempted to claim legitimacy. Obviously, the international community’s response to an attempt at “legitimizing” a gang is not guaranteed, I’m just surprised no one has tried on either end. It’s just the fact that there is absolutely 0 government shows that criminals can fill a political vacuum just as well as politicians and freedom fighters