Waterloo, Canada -The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is pleased to announce the release of its newest publication, Haiti: Hope for a Fragile State, edited by Yasmine Shamsie and Andrew S. Thompson. The aim of the book is to shed light on the varied and complex roots of the current crisis that Haiti faces, dispels misperceptions, and suggest that the situation in Haiti, despite evidence to the contrary, is not completely desperate.
At present, Haiti is a fragile state, a country in the midst of a political, economic, ecological, and social crisis. Violence has sabotaged attempts to establish the rule of law, and state infrastructure is notably absent in much of the country, leading to an overall climate of insecurity. This book offers a variety of perspectives on development, the military, history, NGOs, and politics. The contributors to this volume suggest that donors, NGOs, and international agencies can indeed assist Haitians in the task of building a functioning state and society.
John English, CIGI’s Executive Director commented, “What makes this book unique is that it brings together diverse perspectives, discusses the peace-building efforts of the past, and suggests ways for moving forward so that Haiti can one day become a stable state.”
This book is the outcome of the substantive content from the “Canada in Haiti: Considering the 3-D Approach” conference that took place at CIGI in November 2005, co-hosted by the University of Waterloo’s Centre for Foreign Policy, The Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), the Laurier Centre for Strategic and Disarmament Studies (LCMSDS) and CIGI. The conference analyzed the possibilities and problems of Canada’s effort to implement the defence, development and diplomacy approach in Haiti. The conference and publication are part of a wider effort by CIGI to analyze what makes states fragile and what response international institutions and national governments should make to the challenge that fragility presents to international peace and stability.
The book is available from Wilfrid Laurier University Press and retails for $29.95 CDN (ISBN-13:978-0-88920-510-9)