Nation & Citizen in the Dominican Republic, 1880-1916

Teresita Martinez-Vergne's Nation & Citizen in the Dominican Republic, 1880-1916 is an interesting overview of discussions on modernity, Liberalism, and citizenship in the Dominican Republic. The formative years of 1880 to 1916 are particularly important as markers of significant change in the Dominican Republic's economic fortunes, given the shift to sugar plantations and the rise of urban modernization in Santo Domingo and  San Pedro de Macorís. The author discusses class, race, gender, class, economic factors, and urban modernization schemes in the broader sphere of Liberalism in a Latin American context. The text also includes several illustrations, a map of Santo Domingo in the early 20th century, and informative tables on economic output and salaries in addition to other data.

Honestly, one could not help but feel somewhat disappointed by the author's treatment of Haitian-Dominican relations, however. While adequately covering the importance of immigrants and others in the Dominican Republic at this time (British West Indians, who, despite racial stereotypes, were respected as hard-working Protestants, Cubans, Arabs, Puerto Ricans, Europeans, American businessmen, etc.), Haitians are briefly discussed as the only 'truly' vilified group in the Dominican Republic, specifically to the literate Eurocentric elite which used race and gender to argue against expanding citizenship rights to the majority of the population.

The working classes, disproportionately of African descent, were characterized as lazy and undeserving, which of course ties in notions of racism and classism to restrict Liberalism. So, one sees how anti-Haitianism can play in with classist and racist beliefs on the part of the Dominican elite seeking modernization. Nevertheless, it was underwhelming how the author did not discuss Haitian reactions to Dominican negative characterization, except for one Haitian newspaper (L'Opinion Nationale). It would have been more useful to see a deeper analysis of this conversation on Haitian versus Dominican notions of modernity, particularly to highlight some of the common strands in elite thought in both nations, especially in the limits of citizenship, the role of rural against urban, and Eurocentric standards favored by both sides.

In sum, Nation & Citizenship in the Dominican Republic, 1880-1916 is a useful overview of an important era in the Dominican Republic's history. One can find additional value in it as an introduction to some of the prominent Dominican intellectuals of the day, such as Américo Lugo or Eugenio Maria de Hostos. Readers searching for urban history in a Caribbean or Latin American context will be satisfied, too. Martinez-Vergne recreates urban scenes quite well with analysis of a plethora of urban issues, from prostitution and sanitation to policing and the courts.