Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

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constitutional reform, Supreme Court judges are chosen by a
Council of the Magistrature, with membership from all three
branches of government; other judges are chosen by the
Supreme Court. Provincial (state) governors appointed by
president; municipalities (counties) governed by elected
mayors and municipal councils.
Politics: Following independence from Haiti in 1844, country
characterized by instability for almost a century. Dictator Rafael
Leonidas Trujillo Molina took power in 1930 and ruled in
repressive authoritarian fashion until his assassination in 1961.
Brief civil war in 1965 between liberal Constitutionalists
supporters of 1963 constitution promulgated during shortlived
presidency of Juan Bosch Gaviho—and conservative
Loyalist military factions. Subsequent elections brought
Trujillo protege Joaquin Balaguer Ricardo to presidency, an
office he held for twelve years. Balaguer's attempt to nullify
1978 elections thwarted by pressure from Washington, allowing
Silvestre Antonio Guzman Fernandez of social democratic
Dominican Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario
Dominicano—PRD) to assume nation's leadership. PRD also
won 1982 elections with lawyer Salvador Jorge Blanco as its
standard bearer. Both PRD governments plagued by economic
difficulties that forced them to institute austerity measures
instead of social reforms they initially advocated. Declining
popularity of Jorge Blanco government contributed to
Balaguer's election for a fourth term beginning in 1986.
Balaguer retained power through increasingly conflictual and
questioned elections in 1990 and 1994; he agreed to shorten
his term in 1994 to two years and accept constitutional reforms
including no immediate reelection. Leonel Fernandez Reyna
of the Party of Dominican Liberation (Partido de la Liberacion
Dominicana—PLD) won 1996 presidential elections.
International Relations: Diplomatic activities concentrated on
Caribbean, Latin America, United States, and Western Europe.
Relations with neighboring Haiti traditionally strained as a
result of historical conflicts, cultural divergences, and most
recently, increased migration into the Dominican Republic
from Haiti. Most important international relationship with
United States, on which Dominican Republic has political,
economic, and strategic dependence.
International Agreements and Memberships: Signatory of
Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty)
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