INTL 190 - Haiti in a Transnational Context

Conclusion

Examining the history of struggles for independence in a global context provided a roadmap that followed the development of events before, during, and after the critical turning point in each of the case studies’ struggles for independence. The Haitian timeline reveals the centuries-long process of colonization, racialization, oppression, relationships, and structures that shaped Haiti’s difficulties with development as a small independent nation. Similarly, Taiwan’s history involved periods after periods of colonialism and attempted subjugation by an external force, a pressure of which continues into the present day. In comparing the two’s experiences, Taiwan faced the external force of China that sought to dismantle the existing social structure, whereas the Haitian narrative followed the creation of a socio-political-econ structure from the bottom-up that was strictly enforced and sustained over time, thus explaining the differences between the two inability to resist, revolt, and successfully establish power and control as a small independent state. 

Diving deeper into the development of group identity and its influence in shaping a new democratic state, the developments in Haiti and Taiwan had key parallels and major differences. On one hand, Haitian identity is deeply rooted in race, which has deep ties to class, power, and access to rights and resources to ensure a healthy quality of life. On the other hand, the Taiwan identity has ties to nationalism and ideology, which did not restrict nor have deep ties to other components of identity like class, social value/potential, and political rights. The way the structures of society and state reflect these developments in identity, but it is evident that the racialization of Haitian identity created greater barriers to representation, participation, and decision-making than it did for the nationalization of the Taiwanese identity. 

Lastly, the parallels in experiences and positionalities in the global realm led to the intersection of the two in the strategic formation of modern international alliances. In particular, due to how their political, economic, and global health interests align, the partnership serves the mutual interests well in the short-term and long-term, specifically enriching and strengthening their capabilities and global position.

Given the constrictions of a 10-week seminar and limitations in knowledge as a new, young scholar of Haitian studies and Taiwan studies, these conditions limit the scope and breadth of the research. However, the limitations offer opportunities in the future for more detailed research and analysis. With the existing research, the connections and pieces of evidence presented offer the perspective of how the unique cases of Haiti and Taiwan and their struggles for independence have shaped the experiences of its peoples, its relationships, and the state as a whole over time. Their developments of identity, state, and relationships eventually led to the intersection of the two in the form of a strategic modern international alliance. As a result of these complex dynamics, their parallels in struggles and current relationships with each other play a role in influencing/shaping their respective experiences and development in the global world in the modern era.

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