Securing peace in Haiti : an assessment of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)

Abstract

This paper focuses on assessing the role of the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) in providing stability, security and respect for human rights and the rule of law in Haiti. The proposition is that the efforts have been ineffective and goes on to ask the question whether such an outsider-initiative intervention really advances political order and stability. The study also attempts to illustrate Haitian society’s perception of the peace keeping operations in Haiti thus far. The goal of this study is to illustrate how MINUSTAH may achieve a better success rate for its peace keeping operations with an increased understanding of Haiti’s specific culture and history, especially Haiti’s previous interaction with the international community and colonial history.