Haiti is in a state of chaos. It is ravaged and controlled by vicious gangs caught in a turf war, that terrorize, abuse, and murder at whim. Ultimately, Haiti, on the brink of state failure, will not recover until its internal security crisis and lack of good, legitimate governance are remediated. The United States should pursue a multifaceted "engaged ally" approach to address the underlying security and socio-economic issues to lead to long-term, positive change in Haiti. This approach acknowledges the unique capacity of the United States and its allies to bring about change in Haiti while still prioritizing a Haitian-led solution.
Rebuilding Haiti: Pathways Out of Crisis: This webinar explores Haiti's complex challenges and potential solutions for the nation's recovery. Expert panelists examine the root causes of Haiti's ongoing crisis, including political instability, economic struggles, and security concerns. Discussion topics include the impact of gang violence, the collapse of democratic institutions, and the humanitarian crisis that has left millions food insecure. Panelists share perspectives about international efforts to support Haiti, the role of the Haitian diaspora, and approaches to rebuilding the country's infrastructure and economy.
The panel features Dr. Arturo Sotomayor, Professor, William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies; Dr. John Manza, Executive Director, Haiti Interagency Working Group; Websder Corneille, Haitian Linguist/Adjunct Lecturer, CLACS-Indiana University Bloomington; and Johanna Leblanc, J.D., LL.M., Partner of the Adomi Group/Adjunct Professor at Howard University.
Rebuilding Haiti: Pathways Out of Crisis: This webinar explores Haiti's complex challenges and potential solutions for the nation's recovery. Expert panelists examine the root causes of Haiti's ongoing crisis, including political instability, economic struggles, and security concerns. Discussion topics include the impact of gang violence, the collapse of democratic institutions, and the humanitarian crisis that has left millions food insecure. Panelists share perspectives about international efforts to support Haiti, the role of the Haitian diaspora, and approaches to rebuilding the country's infrastructure and economy.
The panel features Dr. Arturo Sotomayor, Professor, William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies; Dr. John Manza, Executive Director, Haiti Interagency Working Group; Websder Corneille, Haitian Linguist/Adjunct Lecturer, CLACS-Indiana University Bloomington; and Johanna Leblanc, J.D., LL.M., Partner of the Adomi Group/Adjunct Professor at Howard University.
In this article for US Northern Command’s magazine, The Watch, Dr. William Godnick describes the contours and challenges faced at the United States’ "third border" in the Caribbean, specifically the multi-island state of the Bahamas. Dr. Godnick outlines the long-standing bilateral relationship between the United States and the Bahamas and how increased Chinese investment presents a new set of challenges for the relationship. He calls for re-thinking how security cooperation relationships should be forged with high, middle-income countries to avoid security gaps in our shared neighborhood.
Plan Colombia and the Mérida Initiative are the two most significant US security assistance efforts in Latin America in the twenty-first century. At a time when US objectives in the Middle East and Central Asia were flagging, Colombia was a rare US foreign policy victory—a showcase for stabilization and security sector reform. Conversely, Mexico struggled to turn the tide on the country's scourge of crime and violence, even with an influx of resources aimed at professionalizing the country's security, defense, and judicial institutions.
As Washington reconsiders its approach to stabilizing crisis countries after a challenging withdrawal from Afghanistan, From Peril to Partnership's comparative analysis of Colombia and Mexico offers lessons for scholars and policymakers alike, providing insights into the efficacy of US security assistance and the necessary conditions and stakeholders in partner nations that facilitate success. Crucially, private sector support, interparty consensus on security policies, and the centralization of the security bureaucracy underpinned Colombia's success. The absence of these features in Mexico contributed to the country's descent into chaos, culminating in the country's highest-ever homicide rate by the end of the 2010s.
Drawing on extensive fieldwork, From Peril to Partnership evaluates to what extent security assistance programs helped improve the operational effectiveness and democratic accountability of Washington's partners—Colombian and Mexican security forces. It answers why Plan Colombia achieved its objectives and why the Mérida Initiative underdelivered in Mexico. Most importantly, it goes beyond drug war theatrics and the “one-size-fits-all” approach to US-led stabilization—at once, restoring agency to institutions on the receiving end of US security assistance and helping chart a course toward more nuanced and effective US policy.
Angelo, Paul. From Peril to Partnership: US Security Assistance and the Bid to Stabilize Colombia and Mexico. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024.
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Dr. Paterson’s article shares the results of the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies threats survey conducted in late 2022. The survey generated almost 650 responses from Perry Center graduates who selected from 35 threats in the Americas. The results illuminate how leading Latin American and Caribbean scholars – particularly those who work in the security and defense field – see the conditions in the Americas and can help inform policy makers and scholars who follow events in the Americas.
The William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies and the George Washington University Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute hosted a joint online event honoring Richard Cavazos, the first four-star Army General of Hispanic heritage, for whom the third largest US military base was recently renamed. Perry Center Professor Dr. Arturo Sotomayor moderated a conversation with US Navy Admiral (ret.) Michelle Howard, chairwoman of the Renaming Commission and the first African-American woman to command a US Navy ship.
