The small Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, has a long and difficult history. For generations, relations between the two countries and its inhabitants have been marked by tension, frequent conflicts, indifference and a wide variety of social and economic challenges. These have resulted in deeply rooted stereotypes that have fostered widespread prejudice and discrimination.

In recent years, Haiti's democracy has been weakened and economic disparities have led to massive emigration of Haitians toward the Dominican Republic. Security concerns have increased, human and drug trafficking are rampant and extreme poverty persists. In this difficult context, two nations, marked by reciprocal animosity, struggle to co-exist on one small island.