Transnational Hispaniola: Haiti and the Dominican Republic

This course will examine the historical, political, and cultural development of the island of Hispaniola, currently divided in the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In this course we will call into question popular narratives that portray Haiti and the Dominican Republic as locked in an ahistorical, continuous conflict and explore the island’s long history of Haitian-Dominican collaborations and networks. Over time, the two countries have developed different understandings of race, ethnicity, and national identity. This course will therefore engage in a comparative survey of the interwoven dynamics of race and national construction in the making of both nations.