Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

Dominican Republic: Historical Setting
government's action provoked a series of events leading to the
"constitutionalist" uprising in support of Bosch. Three days
later, on April 28, the United States intervened because the
"loyalist" Dominican military troops led by General Elias
Wessin y Wessin were unable to control the growing civil-military
rebellion, often referred to as a civil war. The intervention
was the result of an exaggerated fear on the part of the United
States regarding a potential "second Cuba." Its unilateral
nature was subsequently modified by the creation of an OASsponsored
peace force, which supplemented the United States
military presence in the republic.
Ultimately, negotiations during 1965-66 arranged a peaceful
surrender of the constitutionalist forces, which were surrounded
by foreign troops in downtown Santo Domingo. The
negotiations also prevented a new outbreak of hostilities and
provided for elections, which were overseen by a provisional
government led by Hector Garcia Godoy. However, many
Dominicans viewed these elections, which permitted the
United States to extricate its troops from the country, as
tainted. Bosch and Balaguer (who had returned from exile in
June 1965) were the two main candidates. Bosch felt betrayed
by the United States, which had blocked his possible return to
power and turned on his military supporters, and he ran a lackluster
campaign. Balaguer, at the head of his own conservative
Reformist Party (Partido Reformista—PR) ,
campaigned skillfully
and energetically, promising peace and stability. Balaguer
was clearly the candidate favored by most conservative business
interests and by the officer corps that retained control of the
armed forces; most Dominicans also were convinced he was the
candidate strongly favored by the United States. Although the
civil war had been confined to urban areas, it left some 3,000
dead and the country polarized. Thus, for many Dominicans,
Balaguer' s administration lacked legitimacy.
Authoritarian Balaguer, 1 966-78
In his authoritarian and patrimonial style, predilection for
grandiose public construction projects, and emphasis on the
country's Hispanic essence, Balaguer resembled Trujillo. However,
Balaguer's treatment of economic, military, and political
power differed from that of the strongman under whom he
had served, in part because of changes in Dominican society
and international circumstances.
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