As someone who has a large amount of Dominican family and friends, they would never want that. They are so far apart in terms of their culture, values, standards, and overall way of life. Dominicans want nothing to do with Haiti. Haiti wants nothing to do with setting standards for themselves.
> That may be true, but I'd also be interested in hearing the best argument for the alternative.
You haven't presented yourself a single argument as to why would the Dominican Republic want to do that at first place, how would that benefit them exactly?
The unification of la Hispaniola under a new regime untied to french colonialism could be a strong foundation for political and economical improvements (if made in respect of both cultures). If Canada ever merges with the nearby Turks and Caicos Islands, they could also help improve the economic status of the area by bringing a nice influx of money. Also Canada has a big Haitian diaspora in Quebec, so there are cultural ties already.
I don't mean to be disrespectful, but your line of thinking is very detached from reality. The Dominican Republic doesn't need economic improvements. Sure, every country could always improve their economy. But the quality of life in the DR is good, healthy, stable. Haiti has refused to step up to the plate and improve their country. They don't work their land.
Only Haiti stands to benefit from any "unification". And more importantly, the Dominicans should be the only ones to determine their destiny; not academics who think "improving economic status" is a valid reason for merging one country with another -- without any regard for the preservation of culture, ethnic makeup of the country, history, national identity -- and most importantly: values.
The DR is one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries, and is rapidly getting their shit together. They're also a Spanish speaking nation with enormous cultural, economic, familial, and transportation ties to the rest of LATAM (particularly their hated cousin Puerto Rico).
Haiti is less a country and more corruption as an enterprise, on the back of robbing farmers who own very small plots of destroyed soil.
> The DR is one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries, and is rapidly getting their shit together. They're also a Spanish speaking nation with enormous cultural, economic, familial, and transportation ties to the rest of LATAM (particularly their hated cousin Puerto Rico).
As I asked in the comment you answered to, you didn't explain why would the DR want to have anything to do with Haiti since they are successful on their own as you claim. What does the DR gains from merging with Haiti, one of the poorest country in the world?
You seem to have read my comment backwards. I'm not advocating for them taking over, or claiming that the DR speaks French, or interested in taking over all of Dominica.
> You seem to have read my comment backwards. I'm not advocating for them taking over, or claiming that the DR speaks French, or interested in taking over all of Dominica.
Then what's the point of your comment at first place then? if you were just trying to argue that DR isn't "poor", poverty is obliviously relative, there are poorer countries (Haiti) and there are far richer countries (USA). It's seems like that's the only purpose of your message.