Exogenous development vs. endogenous development in Haiti

From before its independence to the present day, Haiti has had exogenous development schemes imposed upon it. These schemes stem from the development theories of Western political-economic thinkers that Western powers and Haitian elites have implemented. Yet Haiti is today the most impoverished nation of the Western hemisphere. What has gone wrong? In reply, I examine a key power-based explanation for the failure. I then examine the culturally-based practices, identity formations, and development aspirations of Haiti's popular class, and contrast these with exogenous development theory, praxis and outcomes. I show the profound "misfit" between the two and highlight conflicts that have arisen because of them. In Haiti, exogenous development forms will inevitably go awry because their starting points are and remain fundamentally flawed. An endogenous development form based upon the Haitian majority's culturally-based preferences and identities stands the best chance of bringing social justice and long-term stability to the nation.