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In 2004, for the second time in a decade, the international community found it necessary to intervene in Haiti to enforce and keep a peace. For the first time under a United Nations mandate, several Latin American countries stepped up to lead the mission. Chile provided political leadership in the form of the special representative of the secretary general, while Brazil agreed to send the force commander as well as troops. Several other Latin American states also deployed military personnel.

As a result of this historically unique circumstance, CHDS led a research project that looked at capacity building in the hemisphere for those countries that took part in the peacekeeping operation in Haiti: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay. The project identified strategic-level lessons learned in capacity building for peacekeeping and tapped experts from all ten to contribute to Capacity Building for Peacekeeping. In addition, this study identifies which lessons are applicable to the critical task of peacekeeping operations in general. ... Read more

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Haiti is associated with voodoo, Papa Doc and the Tonton Macoutes; of political violence and desperate poverty. In this book, the author is initiated into the feared Bizango religion, an African animalist cult, whose associates venerate coffins and human skulls and talks to zombis, members of the walking dead. The book is part history and part personal travelogue and introduces the reader to a gallery of eccentrics from present day Haiti, as well as from the nation's rich past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Didn't believe a word
Having lived all over Haiti for three years, knowing literally thousands of Haitians, and being fluent in the language, I can say with certainty that much of what Mr. Thomson relates is hyberbolic exaggeration. It's sad when a so-called non-fiction writer fabricates so much information--this is not an accurate representation of real Haiti, but a made-up caricature of what Mr. Thomson belives Haiti should be. While the writing itself is top notch, the stories are obviously bogus and they perpetuate many myths and misunderstandings that seem to be associated with this tragic yet magical land. I do not recommend this book if you are looking for anything remotely approaching the truth.

Fun ride!!
Captivating travel journal.Takes you on an enjoyable ride to all corners of Haiti.Very readable and hard to put down.Translating French phrases would be appreciated.Would recommend this book to friends.thanks!! ... Read more

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This book details the tragedy of our withdrawal from Haiti and summarizes through it the failure of our entire Latin American policy. In effect, the author states the Good Neighbor Policy of the Hoover-Roosevelt administrations became the Forgotten Neighbor Policy. ... Read more

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Folk art traditions in Haiti today rise to the level of fine art in the beaded flags shown here. They demonstrate a joyful expression of living with the spirits, as the flagmakers express their individual artistic spark. Over 350 color photographs present hundreds of unique designs by dozens of contemporary artists. But this is not just a pretty book; it also explores the spiritual beliefs at the core of the designs and a folk lore expressed in this most unique format. A little history of Haiti and a little explanation of the Vodou religion helps to explain the people who create these flags. By relating personal stories, the author soon absorbs readers into the rich and devout culture that the flags represent. As the beautiful designs and exquisite craftsmanship flow across these pages, explanations are given to define the saints and relate the stories that are featured in the images. It is a powerful presentation. The glossary and recommended reading invite further study. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Take a Trip to Haiti Today
You don't have to know anything about Haiti or Vodoo to love this book.From start to finish "Spirits in Sequins" is a sumptuous journey to an exotic land with hundreds of stops along the way to experience wonderful works of sequined folk art. The images are bold and beautiful:mermaids, skeletons, drummers, priests, naked women, tuxedoed men, Adam and Eve, and much, much more.The guide on this tour is the author, Nancy Josephson, who introduces us to the Haitian art and artists in a bright conversational tone.At the end of the journey, when you close the book, you feel like you really got to know Ms. Josephson and her artists. Go look at your passport:it might just have entry and exit stamps from your trip to Haiti with "Spirits in Sequins."Warning:I had the book on my coffee table, but I couldn't stop paging through it when I was trying to pay attention to the new episode of "24."

Spirits inSequins Vodou Flags of Haiti
The richly illustrated book will appeal to artists and craftspeople, anthropologists and admirers of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. A brief history of Haiti and an explanation of Vodou as a dynamic religion lead to an understanding of how the convergence of art, religion and financial need support the creation of Vodou flags. The pictured Vodou flags illustrate how the sequins and mirrors enhance the symbolism through which the culture comes together metaphorically. Images from Catholicism and African religions are incorporated, and the flags have become appreciated by those outside the religion purely for their artistic value. As a fiber artist and psychotherapist, I found the text and the beautifully detailed photos to be fascinating on several levels. Review by Diana Norris

This is a great book.
I havea very extensive collection on Haitian Art books including a nice collection of Haitian paintings. This book is by far by Nancy Josephson is one of the best written. Anyone interested in Vodou Flags will really be pleased. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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Haiti's slave revolution and its continual resistance to occupation and dictatorship are recounted through the Haitian art, poetry, photos, and essays included in this exciting anthology. The agonies and exaltations of the country and its people will garner the reader's empathy and illustrate why the Haitian Revolution is still considered a threat to U.S. foreign policy. Haiti's impact on the United States, including voodoo economics, and the effects of U.S. embargoes against the country are discussed along with plausible reasons for occupation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great insights
This book provides great insights into Haitian history and how it has influenced the US, and how the US has been a key player in determining Haiti's economic & political fate. The conspiracy theories about how Haiti's misery is largely (though not entirely) due to the meddling and often racist policies of the US government suddenly seem more believable!

Excellent Book
Haiti: A Slave Revolution provides a well documented backdrop for the current crisis in Haiti.It clearly exposes the historical role of the governments of France and the US in the destabilization of the country.It lays the basis for the recent kipnapping of Aristide by the US government.

It is a must read for anyone who is interested in the history of Haiti and the role of the US. ... Read more

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This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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Gilden opens our eyes to this fascinating and tragic country. Steeped in Voodoo and brutalised by its rulers, it is a country where human life is cheap and animals hardly worth life. The unconscious violence that runs through from slaughterhouse to street is chillingly captured in Gilden's photographs. So too is the importance of Voodoo; part paganism, part catholicism, its disconcerting mix of rage and ecstasy flows through the book. Though only an hour's flight from Miami and mainland America, Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world.Amazon.com Review
The corpse of a young man lies in the street, his eyes halfopen, his face covered with insects. The uncaptioned image is like ajolt of electricity; no words could improve upon it. Ian Thomson'sintroduction confirms that life has little value in Haiti (cheap forhumans, worthless for animals), a once proud nation that has declinedinto a police state where brutal poverty is the order of theday. Bruce Gilden's largely shocking black-and-white pictures revealthat decline as perhaps never before in a shoot-from-the-hip style ofphotojournalism. While some of the shots stand alone, others beg forexplanation. Despite the silence, the images are anything but quiet;if you listen carefully, you can almost hear them scream. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The despair of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere expressed in photos
There is a great deal of wealth in the Western Hemisphere; even some of the poorer countries have recently made significant economic progress. However, there are still pockets of abject poverty, and there is no region more destitute than almost the entire nation of Haiti. This book is a photographic essay that illustrates just how desperate conditions are in that nation.
The culture is primarily transplanted African, a combination of Christianity and ancient tribal rites. Together, they make up the unique Haitian brand of voodoo, which is in many ways an attempt to escape their unfortunate reality. From these photos, you can see glimpses of that culture, and most of it is not pleasant. Despite many well-intentioned attempts by wealthier nations to improve the conditions in Haiti, they have all more or less failed. There are few smiles on the faces of the people, they seem to be enduring life rather than living it.
The humanitarian good nature in all of us pushes you towards wanting to do something to help these people. However, the fundamental reality of the country is that there is really very little that can be done to truly improve the lives of these people. Their poverty is so ingrained in their culture that it is difficult to determine a course of action that would actually work.

A Dark, Despairing Look At Haiti
Bruce Gilden's "Haiti" is a stark, dismal landscape of poverty which easily conjurs up bleak images of the Congo in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness". Yet it is as riveting as any photographs I've seen from the likes of Salgado and Cartier-Bresson. However, unlike Salgado and Cartier-Bresson, Gilden is content to use his Leica to show viewers the truth, without seeking to portray his poor subjects in a noble, dignified light. All his familiar trademarks from "Facing New York" are here, with his extensive use of flash and odd composition, now brought to bear to show a very dark, grim view of Haitian poverty. ... Read more

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The book focuses on Aristide's political career, emphasizing his strategizing, compromising and dealing with the Clinton administration. In his presentation of the conflict, Girard carefully balances Aristide's and Clinton's needs, and the demands and moral positions the leaders make against each other--the result is that each leader and his constituency comes to life, and their maneuverings and decisions become engaging and meaningful. While Girard focuses on the conflict itself and the foreign policy dynamics at play between Haiti and the US, he also paints a compelling picture of contemporary Haiti and delineates with great clarity the tensions which led to recent violence and the deposition of Aristide.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fascinating and provocative
Clinton in Haiti offers a much-needed appraisal of the 1994 US invasion of Haiti and of Haiti's recent history. Voodoo, cocaine, betrayal, war, CIA, and Clinton: history rarely gets more interesting than this!
JAG

Contemporary history at its best
International, contemporary history at its best, Girard offers a thought-provoking account of the 1994 invasion of Haiti. This is a book of fundamental importance to the history of Haiti and US-Latin American relations. ... Read more

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Clash of Cultures retraces the United States intervention and occupation of Haiti for two decades, 1915D1934 and highlights the patterns of racism which permeated educational aims and objectives pursued by American bureaucrats. ... Read more

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A great Edwardian explorer
As the 19th century became the 20th, Hesketh Prichard [...] became the first white to penetrate the interior of the island of Haiti for 100 years. He was there for the recently-launched London Daily Express, and sparked enormous interest in the practice of voodoo that he uncovered, which is detailed here.
Big-game shot, cricketer and naturalist, HP was one of the leading Edwardian adventurers. Although not a liberal, his writing is happily free of bigotry, and he provides a unique insight into the life of the island at that time.
His next trip was to Patagonia to look into reported sightings of the giant sloth. I am one of his great-grandchildren, and the Daily Express sent me back to Patagonia in 2000. [...] ... Read more

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Everywhere across the United States, children from other countries are joining American classrooms. How can their classmates prepare? Learning about the culture, geography, and history of the new student s native country can help smooth the transition. Greeting the student with a few words in his or her language, making a traditional craft, and whipping up a well-known dish are all sure to help the child feel welcome. In this vibrant and colorful series, students and teachers can find out how to Meet a New Student and maybe make a new friend. From afar, Haiti, a small country on the island of Hispaniola, seems like any other Caribbean paradise. There are lush jungles, white sand beaches, and turquoise waters. But a closer look at the island country reveals a stark glimpse into the third world. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. The government is unstable, crime is rampant, education is for the lucky, and hope is hard to come by. Find out how the Haitian people overcome poverty, killer storms, and mudslides to celebrate a culture rich in French, Spanish, and African history when American schoolchildren Meet a New Student from Haiti. ... Read more

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The notion that politics has failed the Haitian people is explored in this in-depth and balanced analysis. It identifies the causes of widespread poverty and political instability as the result of multiple internal factors centered in the elite-mass relationship, with the resourcefulness of the people blocked by greedy governments. Weinstein and Segal admit that the U.S. has made some mistakes in its relationship with Haiti, but they do not blame the U.S. for Haiti's worst political failure, the Duvalierist system. Essential to Haiti's recovery are closer ties to the Caribbean and to the EEC, along with a continuing relationship with the U.S. ... Read more

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Examines the history of Haiti's ethnic conflict and its continuing effect on the people of that country. ... Read more

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“This book...avoids the political debates about Jean-Bertrand Aristide that dominate so many current writings about Haiti. Its focus is the society itself, the sources of difference, the origins of violence, and the possibility of change....The superb work done by the editors has established a high standard for future efforts.” (Terry Copp and John English from the Preface)