Sovereignty challenges in failed states: the case of Haiti

Despite the growing visibility of other occurrences more central to the future of the great powers, state failure remains a critical concern among international actors due to the vastness of destabilizing consequences it can produce. This thesis examines the nexus between failed states and sovereignty, a key concept for understanding the potential upheaval of political order. The case of Haiti guides the research as a well-known example of a collapsed state. Through the analysis of Haiti’s historical trajectory characterized by foreign interventions and domestic instability, the research demonstrates that sovereignty is a relational concept decisive to maintaining order, providing public goods, and organizing violence in a country. The international community has frequently prioritized efforts like promoting democratic governance, implementing neoliberal policies, or providing financial support to non-governmental organizations, underestimating the inviolate role of the modern state in the contemporary world. By identifying sovereignty as the main issue in Haiti’s prolonged chaos, the author advocates for a more realistic approach to state-building, where restoring domestic Haitian sovereignty through dismantling criminal gangs and the formation of stable and effective institutions should be the guiding principles.