In the case of Haiti the US government was indeed able to get other countries to back the sanctions it wished to impose on Haiti because of fears that the government might other wise be able to hold to the promises it had made in the election. These caused a great deal of suffering to ordinary people as well as making it inpossible for the elected government to carry out its electoral pledges for economic changes.

Whatever failings there may have been in Haiti's elections under Aristide, they pale into insignificance in comparison with those demonstrated in elections held by its northerly neighbour.