Political and social exclusion of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic: approaching a multidimensional racism
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Abstract
This paper’s research focuses on a multidimensional racism suffered by Haitians migrants in the Dominican
Republic, which appears to be social and political as well. The direct experience of the author in the Dominican
Republic strengthens an empirical and theoretical analysis for questioning a possible correlation between
Dominican politics, nationalism, and popular support for the general exclusion, within the Dominican national
system, of Haitian migrants. Through an initial review of relevant literature, from the fields of Sociology and
Migration, this article defines the concept of Agamben’s Homo Sacer. Agamben’s theoretical contribution is
useful to identify the state’s will to exclude Haitian migrants. In addition, Sayad’s concept of State-thinking will
also be used. Moreover, the historical focus on community’s search for national identity relies on Rappaport’s
works and then related to the Dominican Republic. Exclusion and marginalization of Haitian migrants is also
analyzed by outlining the lack of governmental data and updated information about immigrants, leading to
hypothetical correlations between State-promoted illegalization of Haitian migrants, enforced by local politics,
and a social dimension of racial nationalism. With a focus on International Relations on Political Science, the
study describes that the current Dominican government, headed by President Luis Abinader, shows a trend
influenced by a past heritage of political realism and nationalism in its bilateral relations with Haiti, since, it is
worth noting, there seems to be relevant consensus in the Dominican society for such hardline policies.
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