Political and social exclusion of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic: approaching a multidimensional racism

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Published: Mar 5, 2025
Updated: 2025-03-05
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2025-03-05 (4)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17163/uni.n40.2024.04
Keywords:
Dominican Republic, Haiti, migration, racism, politics, social exclusion, nationalism, marginalization

Main Article Content

Alberto Maresca
Georgetown University, EEUU
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3697-8092

Abstract

This paper’s research focuses on a multidimensional racism suffered by Haitians migrants in the DominicanRepublic, which appears to be social and political as well. The direct experience of the author in the DominicanRepublic strengthens an empirical and theoretical analysis for questioning a possible correlation betweenDominican politics, nationalism, and popular support for the general exclusion, within the Dominican nationalsystem, of Haitian migrants. Through an initial review of relevant literature, from the fields of Sociology andMigration, this article defines the concept of Agamben’s Homo Sacer. Agamben’s theoretical contribution isuseful to identify the state’s will to exclude Haitian migrants. In addition, Sayad’s concept of State-thinking willalso be used. Moreover, the historical focus on community’s search for national identity relies on Rappaport’sworks and then related to the Dominican Republic. Exclusion and marginalization of Haitian migrants is alsoanalyzed by outlining the lack of governmental data and updated information about immigrants, leading tohypothetical 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, thestudy describes that the current Dominican government, headed by President Luis Abinader, shows a trendinfluenced by a past heritage of political realism and nationalism in its bilateral relations with Haiti, since, it isworth noting, there seems to be relevant consensus in the Dominican society for such hardline policies.

Article Details

Issue
No. 40: (March 2024-August 2024): Sociology of migration. Current perspectives and analysis.
Section
Dossier Temático
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Author Biography

Alberto Maresca, Georgetown University, EEUU

Born in Italy on January 22, 2001, graduated in Political Science and International Relations at the Federico II University of Naples (Italy), Master in Diplomacy and International Relations from the Diplomatic School of Spain, currently a student of the Master of Arts in Latin American Studies ('25) at Georgetown University, SFS, where I am a Teaching Assistant in International Organizations, and also a Research Assistant.Writing for publications in Spanish and English. My research and interests are focused on Latin American Politics, the Global South, International Relations, and the Sociology of Migration.Originally from Sorrento (Southern Italy). LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alberto-maresca-22b42522a/

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