Integrating Peace and Conflict Studies into Haitian Public Universities: A Pathway to Social and Political Transformation
Institutional Affiliation
Institut de Gestion, de Gouvernance et des Études Politiques (IGGEP)
Start Date
January 2026
End Date
January 2026
Proposal Type
Presentation
Proposal Format
Virtual
Proposal Description
For several decades, Haiti has been facing a profound sociopolitical crisis marked by escalating violence, political instability, widespread assassinations, and the gradual collapse of the rule of law. This situation worsened significantly following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on the night of July 6–7, 2021, plunging the country into a deep political and institutional void. In this environment of insecurity, heavily armed gangs have proliferated and now control over 85% of the metropolitan area, particularly Port-au-Prince, according to various reports, including those from the United Nations. These gangs subject the population to extreme forms of violence and killing, such as systematic rape, targeted killings, and arson attacks on homes, schools, healthcare facilities, and public infrastructure. Against this backdrop, a critical question arises: What role can Haiti’s public universities play in responding to the rise of gang violence and contributing to long-term peacebuilding? This question led to the development of a project that was submitted to the Université Publique du Sud-Est à Jacmel (UPSEJ), which is currently under consideration by nine other public universities across the country. The aim is to integrate peace and conflict resolution studies into public university curricula as a means to foster social and political transformation. It is anchored in two foundational pillars: the creation of a multidisciplinary Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, and the establishment of a chair dedicated to peace studies and peace education. Through academic engagement with concepts such as nonviolence, nonkilling, and a culture of peace, this initiative seeks to transform the university into an agent of positive change and community resilience. By equipping students, faculty members, and community leaders with tools for dialogue, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding, public universities can become key actors in addressing the root causes of violence and promoting a more just and peaceful Haitian society.
Keywords: public universities, peace education, Haiti, culture of peace.
Integrating Peace and Conflict Studies into Haitian Public Universities: A Pathway to Social and Political Transformation
For several decades, Haiti has been facing a profound sociopolitical crisis marked by escalating violence, political instability, widespread assassinations, and the gradual collapse of the rule of law. This situation worsened significantly following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on the night of July 6–7, 2021, plunging the country into a deep political and institutional void. In this environment of insecurity, heavily armed gangs have proliferated and now control over 85% of the metropolitan area, particularly Port-au-Prince, according to various reports, including those from the United Nations. These gangs subject the population to extreme forms of violence and killing, such as systematic rape, targeted killings, and arson attacks on homes, schools, healthcare facilities, and public infrastructure. Against this backdrop, a critical question arises: What role can Haiti’s public universities play in responding to the rise of gang violence and contributing to long-term peacebuilding? This question led to the development of a project that was submitted to the Université Publique du Sud-Est à Jacmel (UPSEJ), which is currently under consideration by nine other public universities across the country. The aim is to integrate peace and conflict resolution studies into public university curricula as a means to foster social and political transformation. It is anchored in two foundational pillars: the creation of a multidisciplinary Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, and the establishment of a chair dedicated to peace studies and peace education. Through academic engagement with concepts such as nonviolence, nonkilling, and a culture of peace, this initiative seeks to transform the university into an agent of positive change and community resilience. By equipping students, faculty members, and community leaders with tools for dialogue, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding, public universities can become key actors in addressing the root causes of violence and promoting a more just and peaceful Haitian society.
Keywords: public universities, peace education, Haiti, culture of peace.