Nationalization of Dominican borderlands

Auteur :
AUGELLI, J. P.

Description :
In the mid-1930s, the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo, embarked on a systematic program of erasing Haitian influence and otherwise nationalizing the frontier zone adjacent to Haiti. The policy proposed to stabilize what had been the most contested and unstable border in the Americas, to block further penetration of Dominican territory by Haitians, and to foster a strong sense of national identity among the people of the Dominican border provinces. By making use of his absolute political and economic power and by playing on the traditional fear and hatred that Dominicans harbored for Haitians, Trujillo was able to achieve some of his nationalization goals. On the basis of occurences since 1960, there is doubt concerning the long-range success of his policies. The Dominican experience with nationalization of borderlands suggests generalizations applicable to frontier problems elsewhere in Latin America.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Geographical review New York, 1980, vol. 70, n°. 1, p. 19-35, Références bibliographiques : 14 réf.

Date :
1980