Agriculture In and Beyond the Haitian Catastrophe

Authors

Marylynn Steckley, Portland State University
Tony Weis, Western University

Published In

Third World Quarterly

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

2-2017

Subjects

Rural-urban relations -- Haiti, Agriculture -- Haiti, Haiti Earthquake -- Reconstruction, Economic development -- Haiti, Peasants -- Political activity, Neoliberalism

Abstract

Although the devastation from Haiti’s 2010 earthquake was concentrated in Port-au-Prince, it had deep agrarian roots. This paper situates Haiti’s urban poverty in the chronic exploitation of the country’s peasant classes as a basis for assessing the competing contemporary visions for agricultural development. We argue that the post-earthquake reconstruction has fortified a neoliberal development that is incompatible with the aspirations of the Haitian peasantry. Given the interrelated power of domestic elites and international donors, and the proliferation of disconnected development projects, we conclude that any prospect for pro-poor development hinges on the growth and collaboration of peasant movements.

Locate the Document

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2016.1256762

DOI

10.1080/01436597.2016.1256762

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/19871

Citation Details

Steckley, M., & Weis, T. (2017). Agriculture in and beyond the Haitian catastrophe. Third World Quarterly, 38(2), 397-413.