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Haiti ARMY POLITICS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Some professionalization of the army continued for a
few
years after the United States occupation, but Haiti's
political
structure deteriorated rapidly after 1934, weakening
civilmilitary relations and ultimately affecting the character
of the
armed forces. After the coup of 1946 and after Colonel
Paul E.
Magloire's election to the presidency in 1950, the army
again
assumed a political role. This development divided the
army
internally, and it set the stage for François Duvalier's
ascent
to power in late 1957
(see Politics and the Military, 1934-57
, ch. 6).
During the three decades of despotic Duvalier rule, a
parallel security force, the VSN emerged. The Duvaliers
maintained control of the country through this brutal
force,
which was independent of the armed forces. Both Duvaliers
lacked
military experience; still, they managed to neutralize the
army's
influence through intimidation, bribery, and political
maneuvering. The Duvaliers also managed to stave off a
number of
low-level opposition plots and invasion attempts, mostly
during
the 1960s.
Data as of December 1989
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