Local January 26, 2025 | 9:53 am

Duarte’s ideas, increasingly distant from current Dominican politics

Despite the fact that Juan Pablo Duarte was one of the founding Fathers of the Nation and the main promoter of the Dominican Republic’s independence in 1844, his liberalism-based ideals are increasingly distant from the current politics of the Caribbean country.

Political scientist and professor David La Hoz states this, citing as an example the absence of some of Duarte’s constitutional principles in the recent reform of the Dominican Constitution, promoted during President Luis Abinader’s second term.

“Duarte’s ideas, although liberal, had as their objective only the liberation of the Dominican Republic; nothing beyond national borders was proposed. As for Dominican politics, in favor of Duarte’s thought, there is none… Notice that last year a constitutional reform was made, where some of Duarte’s constitutional principles should have been included; however, no one proposed that. So, Duarte’s ideas are very far from materializing, because being him and having, as we have, a conservative government that directs the three powers of the State and even the sub-power, the Constitutional Court, his ideals are completely excluded,” said La Hoz during a conversation with journalists from Hoy Digital.

He continued: “Notice that in the accountability speech of the president of the Constitutional Court, he did not even mention Juan Pablo Duarte.”

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David La Hozpolitical scientist and professor

The lawyer also stressed that the patrician’s thoughts were nationalistic, focused on strengthening the Dominican State, defending national sovereignty, and creating a draft Constitution. However, he stressed that the current Magna Carta lacks a connection with these principles.

“His ideas were completely nationalist and consisted of the Dominican State, national sovereignty and a draft Constitution. The draft Constitution, if you look it up and compare it with the current Constitution, you will see that they are not related in any way,” said the political scientist.

For his part, political scientist and professor Belarminio Ramírez said that Juan Pablo Duarte’s thinking has been losing influence in the mind and social behavior of the younger generations and in the exercise of power as globalization advances.

“In basic education programs, Duarte’s ideas are given special emphasis, the content dedicated to the Father of the Nation is abundant in history texts. However, when children grow up, they encounter the harsh reality that Duarte’s ideas, which served as the philosophical foundation for the birth of the Republic, are increasingly vanishing from the daily practices of national life and the exercise of power,” said the political consultant.

“Until 30 years ago, it was difficult to find a speech by a politician, businessman, community, artist or religious that did not allude to a thought of Duarte. Now, citations to Duarte are increasingly scarce. This process of disconnection of people from the ideology of the Fathers of the Nation is not exclusive to the Dominican Republic; it is global. There is a multiculturalism in which the cultures of the most developed and powerful nations are being assimilated by the inhabitants of the smallest towns and more dependent on technologies and information,” explained Belarminio Ramírez.

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Belarminio Ramírez, political scientist and professor

Likewise, the professor described it as a great challenge to maintain Duarte as the architect and central axis of thought and social behavior in the Dominican Republic, which is facing a growing process of denationalization.

“Several students have expressed to me: ‘Professor, Duarte gave everything to free us from the Haitian yoke, and the reality today is that Haiti and the Dominican Republic merge as an unstoppable process.’
So, how is Juan Pablo Duarte facing this new reality in which everything is negotiated in exchange for cheap labor and trade? ”

Belarminio Ramírez also stressed the need for an inclusive national purpose that encompasses all sectors to stop a portion of the Dominican population from transculturating or adopting Haitian culture.

“Duarte is still alive, but, if transculturation continues its course, we will have allowed him to die,” he emphasized.

About Duarte

This Sunday, January 26, marks the 212th anniversary of the birth of Juan Pablo Duarte, founder of the Dominican Republic.

Duarte was the fourth of eleven children of Juan José Duarte and Manuela Díez Jiménez. He demonstrated great political skill in organizing La Trinitaria on July 16, 1838. This secret society would be the nucleus of the movement that, years later, would achieve the separation of Haiti and the foundation of the Dominican Republic.

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Platino frito
January 26, 2025 9:19 pm

Weird how you celebrate separating from Haiti but not from Spain. Spain and France killed off most of the indigenous population and brought the Haitians (slaves) to the island in the first place. They created this giant mess. They were here for close to 400 yrs until the dominicans had had enough and wanted what Haiti had. I believe the Haiti’s ruled for 20 Yrs