Haiti: A Political Economy Analysis

The report argues that Haiti is characterized by a 'phantom state' where a small economic elite maintains power through symbiotic relationships with security forces and external actors, particularly from the United States. This structure has led to extreme inequality, the marginalization of the poor, and a chronic lack of public services in health, education, and energy. The analysis highlights a dramatic decline in voter turnout in recent elections, suggesting a crisis of political legitimacy for presidents Michel Martelly and Jovenel Moïse. It further details the environmental degradation caused by a heavy reliance on biomass energy, the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to climate shocks and trade liberalization, and the prevalence of organized crime, including child trafficking through private orphanages. The report also examines the role of international actors, noting that aid often bypasses the Haitian state, further weakening its capacity.

• Haiti's political and economic structure is defined by a long-standing symbiotic relationship between the economic elite and security actors, which excludes the marginalized majority from power.
• There has been a severe decline in political participation in Haiti, with voter turnout dropping from a peak of 60.3% in 2000 to a record low of 17.3% in the November 20, 2016 presidential elections.
• The Haitian state is described as a 'phantom state' unable to provide basic services, with NGOs or private for-profit entities managing over 80% of primary and secondary schools and approximately 50% of health services.
• Haiti faces critical environmental degradation, with forest cover decreasing from 20% in 1956 to less than 2% today, primarily driven by a dependence on charcoal and fuelwood for 77% of primary energy supply.
• Trade liberalization in the 1980s, particularly the import of subsidized US rice, severely damaged domestic agriculture and increased food insecurity, making Haiti dependent on imports for 80% of its consumed rice.
• Child trafficking is a significant issue, with evidence that some private orphanages recruit children through deception or payment to families to attract foreign donations.
• The re-establishment of the Haitian Army under President Jovenel Moïse has raised human rights concerns due to the appointment of former officers involved in past coups and violent repression.
• International aid and reconstruction funds, such as the Haiti Reconstruction Fund, have frequently bypassed the Haitian government, limiting the state's ability to implement long-term national priorities.

APA

Hauge, W. I. (2018). Haiti: A Political Economy Analysis. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/399d13bc-fd58-4bfd-a6ac-a8bb222a9062/Hauge - Haiti NUPI Report 2018.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Hauge, Wenche Iren. Haiti: A Political Economy Analysis. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2018. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/399d13bc-fd58-4bfd-a6ac-a8bb222a9062/Hauge - Haiti NUPI Report 2018.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hauge |first1=Wenche Iren |title=Haiti: A Political Economy Analysis |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2018 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/399d13bc-fd58-4bfd-a6ac-a8bb222a9062/Hauge - Haiti NUPI Report 2018.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hauge2018haiti, author = {Hauge, Wenche Iren}, title = {{Haiti: A Political Economy Analysis}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2018}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/399d13bc-fd58-4bfd-a6ac-a8bb222a9062/Hauge - Haiti NUPI Report 2018.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }