Once again Haiti is at a crossroads, reminiscent of the historic moment in 1804 when the seams of society were rent asunder and existential choices lay ahead. Then, as now, the common denominator is the people's freedom - although today a specifically "democratic" freedom, however one chooses to define it. Now, as then, overwhelming questions remain unanswered. In this pathbreaking volume, noted scholar Richard M. Morse brings together a distinguished group of contributors to offer a variety of unique views on Haiti's future. The authors represent many constituencies, including the press, workers and peasants, women, intellectuals, youth, business, religion, and the government, as well as outside observers with a special interest in Haitian affairs. Reflecting the common priorities of persons who represent leadership in diverse walks of life, Haiti's Future explores the ways in which the country's "usable past" may ultimately serve as the foundation for a stable and democratic future. Contributors: David E. Apter, Professor of Political Science and Sociology, Yale University; Myrtho Bonhomme, Press counselor, Embassy of Haiti, Washington; Jean Casimir, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Washington; Raymond Chassagne, Professor of Literature, University d'Etat d'Haiti, Port-au-Prince; Lionel Delatour, Minister-Counselor, Embassy of Haiti, Washington; Levadieu Derane, Director of Legal Affairs, Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Larry Diamond, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Charlene Duline, Program Officer, United States Information Agency; Ben Dupuy, Publisher and Editor, Haiti Progress; Pierre-Ryamond Dumas, Journalist, Le Nourvelliste, Port-au-Prince; Patricia Ellis, Writer and Producer, McNeil-Lehrer Report, WETA, Washington; Elene Felder, Program Officer, United States Information Agency; and Jack Felt, Officer-in-Charge for Haiti, U.S. Department of State. It also includes: Michael Finely, Deputy Chief of Staff, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congress of the United States; Odette Roy Fombrun, freelance writer, Port-au-Prince; Ducheine Fortune, pastor, Port-au-Prince; Germaine Jean Francois, Organization Secretary, Union Centrale Autonome des Travailleurs Haitiens, Port-au-Prince; David P. Geggus, Associate Professor of History, University of Florida, Gainesville; Donald Gould, Program Officer, United States Information Agency; Randy H. Grodman, Program Officer, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs; Jean Jacque Honorat, Director, Center for Defense of Haitian Freedom, Port-au-Prince; Michael Hooper, National Coalition for Haitian Refuguees; Stephen Horblitt, legislative assistant to Congressman Walter Fauntroy; Richard N. Horwill, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Inter-American Affairs, U.S. Department of State; and, Roma D. Knee, Agency for International Development. It also features: Rene Laroche, agronomist, Cooperative d'Epargne et de Credit, Port-au-Prince; David E. Lewis, University of Pennsylvania; Robert Maguire, Inter-American Foundation; Val T. McComie, Assistant Secretary General, Origanization of American States; Sidney W. Mintz, Professor of Anthropology, The Johns Hopkins University; Anibal Miranda, Fellow, The Wilson Center; Emerante de Pradines Morse, consultant to the office of the deputy directory and the Latin American Program, The Wilson Center; David Nicholls, St. Antony's College, Oxford University; Donna Oglesby, United States Information Agency; Alastair Reed, Fellow, The Wilson Center; Marie-Michele Rey, Commerical Director, Port-au-Prince branch of the Banque Nationale de ParisAlain Rocourt, Chairman and Superintendent General, Methodist Church of Haiti, Port-au-Prince; Pierre D. Sam, Ambassador of Haiti to the United States; and, Howard Wiarda, American Enterprice Institute.

Author Biography

Richard M. Morse (1922 - 2001) was a Latin Americanist scholar and professor at Columbia University, University of Puerto Rico, Yale University, Stanford University and the Wilson Center in Washington DC. He was among the first academics in the United States to offer a nontraditional analysis of Latin America by suggesting that English-speaking North America had much to learn from the cultures of Spanish-, Portuguese- and French-speaking countries of the South. His many books include New World Soundings: Culture and Ideology in the Americas, also published by Johns Hopkins. In 1993, Morse was awarded the Order of the Southern Cross (Ordem do Cruzeiro do Sul) for contributions to Brazilian culture, the nation's highest honor for non-Brazilians.