In 1804 Haiti became the world’s first independent Black republic following a slave revolution. Two hundred years later, ravaged by colonialism and corrupt elites, it was placed under a UN military occupation.

Haiti’s New Dictatorship is the history of the past seven years, from the 2004 coup against Aristide to the devastating 2010 earthquake,revealing a shocking story of abuse and neglect by international forces. Justin Podur reveals the reality of a supposedly benign international occupation, arguing that the denial of sovereignty is the fundamental cause of Haiti’s problems.

A powerful challenge and wake-up call to the international NGO and development community, Haiti’s New Dictatorship is essential reading for anyone concerned with justice in the global south and progressive development policies.

Justin Podur is an associate professor of environmental studies at York University. He is a writer on political conflicts and social movements, and has reported from numerous countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Haiti and Israel/ Palestine. He is a contributor to Empire’s Ally: Canadian Foreign Policy and the War in Afghanistan (2012).

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