In the past two days, the international community has geared up to help Haiti after a devastating earthquake hit the island nation on Tuesday.  Emergency relief is trickling into the country, despite the logistical problems caused by the damage to the Port-au-Prince airport, and this morning, the Obama administration pledged a first installment of $100 million to the relief effort.  The United States is also sending about 3,500 American troops to help the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to keep order in the capital.

While the immediate relief effort is barely underway, some discussion has already shifted to how foreign aid should be directed to longer term reconstruction and development efforts.  The New York Times, for example, has assembled a cast of academics and policy experts to debate this issue.  Unfortunately, the commentators do not provide much of a rollicking discussion.  Instead, the majority agree that, despite a history of corruption and abuse, aid should be channeled through the central government in order to build a "coherent and functioning state."  Indeed, in the patronizing words of Robert Fatton, Jr. of the University of Virginia: "Haitians may finally understand that a better future requires the demise of the old ways of governing and producing."

The single-minded focus on technocratic state-building reflected in the New York Times discussion is disconcerting.  A strong central government is not always good for promoting peace, development and human rights.  In fact, it has been argued that Haiti did, in many senses, have a strong central government under dictators Francois Duvalier (Papa Doc) and his son Baby Doc - one, in fact, that terrorized the population and kept most of the country in poverty for decades.  Strong central governments that have a monopoly on power and resources have also contributed to instability and outright civil war in similarly small and poor countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia.  Part of the post-war reconstruction efforts in these countries now focuses on decentralization of government functions to local councils as well as community-based empowerment to promote good governance, development and lasting peace.

These lessons should not be forgotten as the international community reaches out to Haiti.  The Haitian people are resourceful and resilient.  It is important that aid efforts work to support them and strengthen other sectors of society besides the central government.

UPDATE: I do want to be clear that there is a difference between the military-led governments of the past in Haiti and recent efforts to build a strong civilian government.  This is certainly something that should be supported, particularly in the wake of such a devastating crisis when there could be opportunities for the military to reassert itself.  However, efforts to strengthen civil society and local governance are also important as part of a long-term strategy in Haiti.