Insert Constitution A into Populace B

Matt has a mostly on-the-money account of America's past in nation-building. He leaves out a key detail, though: that all of our "success stories" came about as the result of a victorious war that was in our national interest, and that our successful "nation-building" were part of a larger strategy aimed at containing a dangerous enemy. In other words, pretty much exactly what we're doing in Iraq.


The other problem, is that Japan, Germany, France, etc., were all functioning countries with dynamic economies and an educated populace before we moved in. We didn't build them so much as rebuild them, and we didn't do that so much as make resources available so they could do it themselves. From reading Zayed's blog, I'm betting that the same is true of Iraq. The Iraqis a) have a clear understanding that sovreignity is going to return, b) have a stake in constructing a functional civil society, and c) a chance to let the free market work it's magic.


All the "basket cases" we've had to invade time and time again, to little result (I dispute that Panama belongs on that list, however), are bannana republics with one-crop economies, little sense of the rule of law, poor education, and a populace with little to no stake in their own governance. "Nation-building" is a false term on many levels, because it implies that one nation can build another. It cannot. Only a people can make themselves into a nation. So far, the Haitians have not even tried. Their history is a revolving door of heads of state forced to flee the country by the next fool to do so. The government regards the people as its chattel as much now as when the place was one big sugar plantation. Until that changes, there's little we can do.


In order to make a real go of it, we'd have to:


1. Take the country over and rule it for a period of several years. A decade sounds just about right.


2. Disband the army. Begin training a new one, on the pattern of the Guardia Nacional in Nicaraqua, a professional, well-paid constabulary that doesn't need to shake the population down to eat.


3. Establish a competent civil service, and a tax code and administrative system that actually provides services to the population (and one not so expensive that the nation can't afford it after we leave).


4. Establish property rights. Give people the deeds to their homes. They tried this in Peru a few years ago, and it worked miracles. End the right of the government to confiscate property for good by setting the example.


5. Strenghten what judiciary exists in the country. Get it up and running during the occupation, and subject our Guarde Nationale du Haiti to its edicts.


6. Get a functioning electoral commission to certify ballot results and oversee the formation of political parties. Begin electing a National Assembly to advise the occupying power, which will serve as the legislature when sovreignity is returned.


Only then should we worry about such piffling details as writing a Constitution. When we do that, we should make it simple, with a seperately elected executive and legislature, and an independent judiciary, like our own government. The National Assembly can work out the details, as is being done in Iraq.


All of which would be worth a fart in a hurricane if the Haitians don't play ball. We can give them institutions, and while we control the land, make them do as they should. But if the people don't see these institutions as theirs, it won't wash. Then they'll make a nation of themselves.