Urban Dwellings, Haitian Citizenships: Housing, Memory, and Daily Life in Haiti

Urban Dwellings, Haitian Citizenships examines the failures of international reconstruction in Port-au-Prince after the 2010 earthquake and explores how Haitians use and transform the city to create spaces of belonging and forms of citizenship.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 10 December 2021
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Urban Dwellings, Haitian Citizenships delves into the unsuccessful international reconstruction efforts following the catastrophic 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the shortcomings of international aid in Haiti, while also examining examples of Haitian-led reconstruction and economic practices. Through an examination of the interplay between indigenous urban uses and the urbanization of rural areas within the context of violent urban planning, the book reveals how the economic development initiatives promoted by international agencies perpetuate impermanence and instability. Conversely, it showcases how ordinary Haitians utilize and transform the city to establish spaces of belonging and forms of citizenship rooted in a long history of resistance against extractive economies. The book takes readers on a journey through the remnants of failed industrial projects in Haitian provinces and into the streets, rubble, and homes of Port-au-Prince, offering insights into the possibilities and meanings of dwelling in post-disaster urban landscapes.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978820586