20284: TJpershing: Re: 20245: (Chamberlain) The nation-building trap (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tjpershing@aol.com


> GregChamberlain@compuserve.com

       Decentralization may be a real solution in Haiti (though it does come
with its own problems), and right now, when the center is both illegitimate
and weak would be a good time to take that approach. It is worth noting that
once again Jacmel managed to keep itself sane. This might be better understood,
supported and transfered to other small cities and towns.
       Benin used a National Sovereignty Conference to redesign the state.
This conference basically brought all the players together from all segments of
society and  worked out a new political approach. Everything was on the table,
and somehow, it worked (and it has since been used elsewhere). Perhaps it is
time to look beyond the failed models used in the past, and seek out an
approach more closely suited to the Haitian context.

Tim Pershing