Date of Award
6-20-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Rhys Williams
Abstract
In this work, I explore the local imaginaries Haitians living in Port-Salut have of Non-Governmental Organizations. I contextualize the data collection period and consider how the history of aid distribution in Haiti influenced these imaginaries. For this research, we conducted 100 interviews with individuals who lived in remote spaces of Port-Salut and those living in the city center. I discuss the data collection process in the Haitian countryside and the implications of conducting research as a foreigner. This dissertation explores three main themes: The categorization of “NGO” as people, the relationship locals have with the Haitian State, and their relationship with their faith. I discuss how the latter two may influence locals’ predisposition towards Non-Governmental Organizations and their representatives. This dissertation answers important questions, such as “Do Haitians want NGOs to stay in Haiti”? And how do Haitians reconcile the stark absence of the state with the continuous presence of aid and aid workers in Haiti?
Recommended Citation
Jean-Baptiste, Stephanie, "Ou Pa Moun Bò Isit: Haitian Imaginaries of Non-Governmental Organizations" (2024). Dissertations. 4075.
https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/4075
