HAITI'S ENVIRONMENT

An Environmental History of Haiti (1492-present)

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This project will aim to reinforce the international dimension of the applicant's career and give him the opportunity to be professionally trained in the United States as an Environmental Historian. He will acquire new knowledge and research methods and will return to the EU well-equipped to teach and publish in this relatively new field of study, still under-represented in Europe. The project will fill in a void in scholarly research by producing the first Environmental History of Haiti since 1492. The monograph will attempt to explain why Haiti is now one of the most environmentally degraded and poorest countries in the world, whilst it was in the 18th century a luxuriant island and the leading exporter of sugar in America. Existing academic works on Haiti are mostly centred on one particular aspect of the history of the country, are circumscribed in time and almost always neglect the environment when attempting to explain the nation's tortured past. This project's working hypothesis is that environmental factors have played a much more significant role than is currently recognized. For example, the pattern of population and colonisation of the island, which has played such a significant role in the country’s history, was severely constrained not only by the slave-based plantation economy, but also by the work of humble mosquitoes, vectors of yellow fever and malaria. Environmental degradation today (deforestation, soil erosion…) also plays a crucial role in the chronic instability of the country. The project will be carried out in Washington D.C. and Paris under the guidance of two leading scholars in the field, John McNeill (Georgetown University) and Genevieve Massard-Guilbaud (EHESS). The applicant will take advantage of the rich resources available for his research both in Washington (Library of Congress, National Archives) and in Paris (Archives and Bibliothèque Nationales), and will also benefit from the intellectual stimulus in both host institutions.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

There is a void in scholarly research in the field of environmental history with focus on Haiti/Saint-Domingue. An EU initiative offered training support and advanced knowledge in the thematic area.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Academic works on Haiti disregard the impact the environment had on its past, even though it was a fertile island and the leading exporter of sugar to the United States during the 18th century.

Overall, the EU-funded project 'An environmental history of Haiti (1492-present)' (HAITI'S ENVIRONMENT) aimed to explore how environmental factors influenced its development from the time of Christopher Columbus to today.

To achieve this, the project carried out bibliographical work and identified relevant sources and experts. This was followed by attendance at seminars and conferences.

Archives research was conducted at various universities and institutes in the United States, and interviews and other research exercises were carried out in Haiti. Papers were presented and invited speeches given at high-profile conferences such as the Society for French Historical Studies conference at Harvard University in 2013. A panel was organised at the European Society for Environmental History conference, and the project co-organised a workshop hosted by Georgetown University.

Other project work included the revision, proofreading and correction of four books from initiatives preceding this project. One deliverable was a new introduction for the second edition of the book 'Les Refugies Acadiens en France (1758-1785): L'impossible re-integration?' and the signing of a contract for its translation into English. Five articles were published in peer-reviewed academic journals and edited books, and several book reviews were published in leading academic journals.

The first-ever monograph on the environmental history of Haiti was not completed during the three-year project. Bibliographical references, archives, interviews, environmental factors under consideration and the complexity of Haiti's history since 1492 required more time. Project work continues with more research and the writing of the monograph.

HAITI'S ENVIRONMENT exploited the abundant literature on Haiti to further knowledge of its little-known environmental history. Despite its completion, the project carries on investigating what led this once-vibrant country to become one of the world's poorest today.