Institutional reforms, control of corruption, and diaspora entrepreneurship: insights and perspectives on America's poorest economy

PurposeWhile diaspora entrepreneurs remain important sources of capital and innovation, many developing countries are facing serious challenges to tap into these sources because of their weak institutional settings and the endemic and systemic corruption. To this end, this study explores how institutional reforms and control of corruption can influence diaspora entrepreneurship. This study also seeks to provide perspectives on how diaspora entrepreneurs can influence institutional reforms and market policies.Design/methodology/approachTo meet these objectives, qualitative and interpretive research approaches were employed.FindingsUsing responses collected from Haitian diaspora entrepreneurs living in the USA, this paper highlights different attributes of institutional reforms and control of corruption that can influence diaspora entrepreneurship.Practical implicationsBased on these insights, this paper argues that Haitian diaspora entrepreneurs need to play a proactive role as policy entrepreneurs by supporting competent and well-intention political leaders to gain office and by joining forces with local actors to advocate for institutional reforms, market reforms and control of corruption in order to be able to exploit market opportunities. In this respect, further perspectives for diaspora entrepreneurship, limitations and consideration for future research are highlighted.Originality/valueBy collecting insights on institutional reform and diaspora entrepreneurship from diaspora entrepreneurs, this paper makes important contribution to the entrepreneurship literature.

Communication, migrant activism and counter-hegemonic narratives of Haitian diaspora in Brazil

This article presents ongoing findings of a larger research project oriented towards the analysis of counter-hegemonic narratives produced and shared in digital media by Haitian immigrants during 2015 and 2017. The analysis demonstrates how these narratives evidence racism experienced by these immigrants residing in Brazil. The analytical corpus is comprised of a selection of these media narratives as well as the examination of in-depth interviews conducted with Haitian immigrants in the Southeast, South and Mid-East areas of Brazil. Results show two dimensions in these narratives. On the one hand, the recognition and denunciation of racism marks the insertion and trajectory of Haitians in Brazil; on the other hand, the growing efforts for producing other representations in Haiti and Haitians in Brazil.

Case Study: Preventing and Resolving Conflict Between Bahamian Nationals and the Haitian Diaspora that Reside in The Bahamas

Conflict between Haiti and its Caribbean neighbors often arises because of its large migrant population. In The Bahamas, ethnic, cultural and political reasons have resulted in conflict between Haitians and Bahamians. Bahamians regard Haitians as culturally, ethnically and economically inferior. Haitians are thought to deprive Bahamian nationals of government resources. This has resulted in intolerance and discrimination towards Haitians by Bahamian locals and government bodies. As a result, the basic human rights of Haitians are violated. Stereotypes and mistreatment of Haitians have resulted in anti-Bahamian sentiment and mistrust. Without mediation via international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the joint-initiatives between the Bahamian and Haitian government will continue to fail. As a result, the ongoing conflict between both groups risks escalating to mass violence.

Bringing Radio Haiti Home

In a dialogue, the authors—one an audiovisual archivist, the other a scholar-turned-archivist—discuss the challenges of processing the Radio Haiti Archive, the seemingly unusual choice of Duke as custodian of the collection, and the sometimes uneasy balance between the practices of a traditional US academic library and providing true access to audiences in Haiti and in the Haitian diaspora. Wagner and Breaden address the ways in which the Radio Haiti archive is an act of devoir de mémoire (memory work), contending that providing meaningful access to digitized Radio Haiti materials—in terms of language, technology, and culture—allows the station to, in a sense, continue to exist in its place of creation, as a bearer of Haiti’s history and heritage.