Rethinking the Haitian Revolution: Slavery, Independence, and the Struggle for Recognition

by Alex Dupuy

In this important book, leading scholar Alex Dupuy provides a critical reinterpretation of the Haitian Revolution and its aftermath. Dupuy evaluates the French colonial context of Saint-Domingue and then Haiti, the achievements and limitations of the revolution, and the divisions in the Haitian ruling class that blocked meaningful economic and political development. He reconsiders the link between slavery and modern capitalism; refutes the argument that Hegel derived his master-slave dialectic from the Haitian Revolution; analyzes the consequences of new class and color divisions after independence; and convincingly explains why Haiti chose to pay an indemnity to France in return for its recognition of Haiti's independence. In his sophisticated analysis of race, class, and slavery, Dupuy provides a robust theoretical framework for conceptualizing and understanding these major themes. --Linden F. Lewis, Bucknell University

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2019

Reviews

[Nigel Bolland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, by a leading expert on Haitian history and society, is thoroughly researched and very well written. It provides an original assessment of Hegel’s analysis of master/slave relations in the light of the revolution and Hegel’s racism. It also shows convincingly how the formation of dominant classes in the new country retarded subsequent developments. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in the history of slavery and revolutions in the Americas.