A new look at haitian migrations to the Dominican Republic: Introduction to a comparative methodology

Abstract

Migratory flows from one country to another and from less developed areas to areas that offer the potential for a better quality of life, have always existed due to the intrinsic need of human beings to satisfy, at least, a series of basic requirements such as they are water, food, work and health services. This article introduces a methodology that allows us to analyze the origin of migratory flows and the way in which they can influence the economic, political and social development of a country. Within the context of the pull and push theory, the methodology qualitatively analyzes a series of historical events that have served as an accelerator or retarder of Haitian migratory flows to the Dominican Republic. In the second part, it introduces a quantitative analysis that makes it possible to compare —in a simple way— a group of nations in order to understand their economies, fragilities, social disparities and governance; establish the position of the Dominican Republic and Haiti vis-à-vis them; and determine if there is a force of attraction or push between these two nations in terms of migration. In the same way, the advantages or disadvantages that a continuation of the Haitian immigration flows to the country may bring are examined, and what would happen if the economic, political and governance systems of both nations were to merge into one. The list of countries to be examined includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. The article ends by making a number of observations based on the information collected and the results of the analyzed data.