IFDS Participant: Dominican Republic and Haiti

"This was faculty development at its best. The IFDS showed us cutting-edge projects, led by scholar-activists whose research was being tested in the crucible of daily practice, and seduced us to join them in their research and work."

Poverty, Race, and Participatory Democracy in the Dominican Republic and Haiti

Council's International Faculty Development Seminar in the Dominican Republic and Haiti was held January 12-18, 1997. The theme was "Poverty, Race and Participatory Democracy in the Dominican Republic and Haiti." Dr. Kristine Jones, Resident Director at the Council Study Center in Santo Domingo, was the Faculty Leader for the seminar, which drew faculty participants from around the U.S.

Was it a success? If faculty development means acquiring new knowledge and a better understanding of the dynamics of change in these countries -- yes, it was a success. If a faculty development experience should have old ideas challenged and novel interpretations presented -- it was a success. If faculty development should draw faculty out of their comfortable ruts and help them retool with other, non-traditional intellectual interests – again, it was a success.

The seminar was a wonderful way to add to one's store of knowledge and practical experiences and to expand interest in the region. For example, although trained as a Latin Americanist, I had specialized in South America and Mexico; the Caribbean was something of a blind spot for me. This seminar opened new horizons and spurred a broader interest in government and politics in these countries.

All of our briefings were presented by top scholars in their respective countries. Now that the dictatorships are gone, many academics are moving into governmental advisory posts or even as new officials. Yet their presentations were worthy of any professional meeting. While in Haiti, a briefing by Professor Sabine Manigat was so scholarly that it was not until the question and answer period following her lecture that we discovered she is now a member of the cabinet! Her inadvertent use of, "Well, we in the government..." was the only digression in what otherwise was a sophisticated and original analysis of the sociological changes presently occurring in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Lectures covered such topics as: "The Legacy of Slavery in Hispaniola," "The Dominican Diaspora," Local-Level Initiatives in Public Health and Democracy," "Haitian-Dominican Relations," and "Poverty, Democratization, and Local Development in the New Cité Soleil."

The site visits and practical experiences were also enlightening. We saw the colonial sector of Santo Domingo and visited the house built be Diego Columbus who lived there as Viceroy. In Santiago, we saw the modern campus of Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) where Council conducts its International Study Programs for college students. This was of interest because some of the IFDS participants also serve as study abroad advisors on campus.

While in Santiago, we were also briefed about neighborhood citizens councils which discuss and determine the most urgent needs of their barrios. These pressing needs are then communicated to the city council for action. It may sound elementary, but in a place where all decisions used to be made at the center, this "bottom up" democratization is something to brag about!

We visited "health houses" in barrios where representatives from the university teach poor and uneducated residents to give primary health care, and educate others about the importance of clean drinking water, child care, and dysentery. This project was most impressive, funded partly by the Kellogg Foundation. While visiting a "batey" (migrant labor camp) where Haitians live while working in the Dominican rice harvest, we learned about historic and racial animosities between Dominicans and Haitians. As explained by Professor Guy Alexandre, whose term as Haiti's Ambassador to the Dominican Republic is just now ending, racial politics has modern consequences for the relationship between the two countries.

While in Haiti, we visited the historic ruins of Sans Souci Palace, which was built high in the mountains to rival Versailles. We met U.N. peacekeeping forces (wearing New York Police Department uniforms) who are stationed there to help train new, non-military policemen. Our van was actually stopped by Haitian police one night; however, after explaining that we were professors and were lost, they graciously led us to our hotel.

We learned that the Dominican Republic and Haiti are laboratories of social and governmental experimentation. As they find their way out of authoritarianism and move toward democracy, some of the most interesting and exciting public policies in the hemisphere are being tried out in these two countries.

This was faculty development at its best. The IFDS showed us cutting-edge projects, led by scholar-activists whose research was being tested in the crucible of daily practice, and seduced us to join them in their research and work. Every scholar was interested in cultivating personal and institutional contacts; many business cards were exchanged. As we participants now set about revising syllabi and planning new research agendas, surely the experience of this CIEE seminar will find expression on our campuses.

The above is an account by Clair W. Matz, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science (and Study Abroad Advisor) at Marshall University, in Huntington, W.V. Dr. Matz participated in Council's inaugural seminar to the Dominican Republic and Haiti earlier this year.