Haiti: the saturnalia of emancipation and the vicissitudes of predatory rule

Since its independence in 1804 Haiti has failed to generate the political and economic institutions with which to usher in a functioning and accountable democratic order. In spite of its glorious revolution, which abolished slavery at the moment of its creation, Haiti faced a series of domestic and international constraints that prevented it from engaging in a successful process of nation-building. While these constraints have taken new forms, they have continued to plague the contemporary struggles for democratisation and equity. This article will analyse critical moments of Haiti's history to illustrate these persisting constraints.