| ID | 139164 |
| Title Proper | Challenge of democratizing the Caribbean during the cold war |
| Other Title Information | Kennedy facing the Duvalier dilemma |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Arthus, Wien Weibert |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article examines the course of U.S.–Caribbean relations during the Kennedy years, considering Haiti as a case study. During the first year of Kennedy’s presidency, the U.S. policy toward Haiti was ambivalent. Duvalier’s regime displeased Kennedy since the beginning. Nevertheless, fear of Communism caused him to take a laissez-faire approach to the Haitian situation. The Haitian dictator was a Western ally in the Cold War, and U.S. intelligence believed that Castro or Haitian Communists could benefit from his removal. Starting in 1962, Kennedy did not hide his revulsion for the Haitian dictator. Cold War consideration, again, motivated his shift to an open and hostile position toward Duvalier. U.S. officials were afraid that Duvalier’s dictatorship would provoke a Communist revolution in Haiti. Factors that had been an asset to Duvalier led to his undoing. Kennedy, therefore, was resolute to bring a political change in Haiti and decided the best means would be Duvalier’s demise. However, U.S. limited economic sanction and incomplete military actions were insufficient to bend Duvalier. This study helps verify the reference of “the most dangerous area in the world” attributed to the Caribbean and Latin America during the Cold War era. |
| `In' analytical Note | Diplomatic History Vol. 39, No.3; Jun 2015: p.504-531 |
| Journal Source | Diplomatic History Vol: 39 No 3 |
| Key Words | Caribbean ; Kennedy ; Cold War ; U.S Policy ; Challenge of Democratizing ; Duvalier Dilemma ; U.S. – Caribbean Relations |