James Dobbins, former U.S. Special Envoy to Haiti, discusses social, political, and economic development in the struggling country with Anchor, Bill Moyers.

Despite Haiti's long suffering in most areas of human experience, it has managed to develop and sustain strong traditions in the visual arts, literature, and music.

To understand Haiti's history -- only ten of its 48 presidents have served out their terms and there have been only two peaceful electoral transitions since the beginning of the republic over 200 years ago -- it is critical to look at the material and historical circumstances of the colonial period.

We have been documenting Haitian political, social, and cultural life for a combined total of three decades, Daniel as a photojournalist since before the downfall of the Duvalier dictatorship in 1986, and Jane as a writer, filmmaker, and human rights advocate for the past decade.

Learn more about Haiti from these additional web resources.

(September 6, 2005) Through unfettered access to political strongmen, gangsters turned presidential hopefuls, and ordinary Haitian citizens, WIDE ANGLE reveals Haiti's struggle to fashion a true representative government out of a volatile failed state.