Latin American international politics in Haiti: from solidarity to realism

Abstract

Haiti is the poorest and most unequal country in Latin America, it was so before the earthquake and it continues to be so today. The international community is currently actively present in Haiti, with Latin American states among the most important actors through the Union of South American Republics (UNASUR) and their active participation in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH for its acronym in French). This article studies the different initiatives carried out in a coordinated manner by Latin American countries in Haiti. Their study will show the tension between an international policy with pluralistic goals that appeal to regional solidarity, the realistic features that evince the specific interests of the countries that carry it out, and the results of the Latin American presence in Haiti.