--- product_id: 1977488 title: "Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola" price: "R1146" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/1977488-why-the-cocks-fight-dominicans-haitians-and-the-struggle-hispaniola store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola **Price:** R1146 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola - **How much does it cost?** R1146 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/1977488-why-the-cocks-fight-dominicans-haitians-and-the-struggle-hispaniola) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Like two roosters in a fighting arena, Haiti and the Dominican Republic are encircled by barriers of geography and poverty. They co-inhabit the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, but their histories are as deeply divided as their cultures: one French-speaking and black, one Spanish-speaking and mulatto. Yet, despite their antagonism, the two countries share a national symbol in the rooster--and a fundamental activity and favorite sport in the cockfight. In this book, Michele Wucker asks: "If the symbols that dominate a culture accurately express a nation's character, what kind of a country draws so heavily on images of cockfighting and roosters, birds bred to be aggressive? What does it mean when not one but two countries that are neighbors choose these symbols? Why do the cocks fight, and why do humans watch and glorify them?" Wucker studies the cockfight ritual in considerable detail, focusing as much on the customs and histories of these two nations as on their contemporary lifestyles and politics. Her well-cited and comprehensive volume also explores the relations of each nation toward the United States, which twice invaded both Haiti (in 1915 and 1994) and the Dominican Republic (in 1916 and 1965) during the twentieth century. Just as the owners of gamecocks contrive battles between their birds as a way of playing out human conflicts, Wucker argues, Haitian and Dominican leaders often stir up nationalist disputes and exaggerate their cultural and racial differences as a way of deflecting other kinds of turmoil. Thus Why the Cocks Fight highlights the factors in Caribbean history that still affect Hispaniola today, including the often contradictory policies of the U.S. Review: A readable and informative social history - As a high school teacher who leads extended service immersion programs in the Dominican Republic, I've placed this book on my regular reading list for our students. It is sophisticated but readable. The chapters are informative and interesting, and the anecdotal method of conveying important historical events is very effective. The book effectively dispels many of the misunderstandings and myths about Haiti, the DR, and the relationship between the two countries while clearly and objectively depicting several of the political and social upheavals that have defined the island's identity over the centuries. Review: An Eye Opening experience - In reading this book, I learned many more things that I have not known. The island with all of it inhabitants shares a rich and tortured history. There seem to be many uncovered facts in this book, such as the Dominican Republic actually obtained it's Independence from Haiti, that Haiti actually took the steps that eventually liberated the entire island. Though much of the time seems to have been spent in the Dominican Republic with many oblique references to Haiti, a fair amount of that time illuminating the perverse dislike each has for the other, in some ways the idea of blaming the party that for obvious reasons is unable to counteract the argument. For the most part this book illuminates much more of the history between the Haitians and the Dominicans, more and more about the immigration issues that seem to rear its erstwhile head in many places, and why folks seem to be driven to improve upon their personal life spaces. How some of these enclaves come to be, and remain that way. Little is discussed about Arristede and many of his predecessors, the wasting of the land itself and how it came to be that many Haitians would eventually choose to live in the Dominican Republic or the United States, or why Haiti is the most impoverished country in this hemisphere by far. ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,156,282 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #29 in Dominican Republic History #91 in Haiti Caribbean & West Indies History #416 in Comparative Politics | | Customer Reviews | 4.2 out of 5 stars 96 Reviews | ## Images ![Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81FYv+hDoNL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A readable and informative social history *by P***O on December 28, 2012* As a high school teacher who leads extended service immersion programs in the Dominican Republic, I've placed this book on my regular reading list for our students. It is sophisticated but readable. The chapters are informative and interesting, and the anecdotal method of conveying important historical events is very effective. The book effectively dispels many of the misunderstandings and myths about Haiti, the DR, and the relationship between the two countries while clearly and objectively depicting several of the political and social upheavals that have defined the island's identity over the centuries. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Eye Opening experience *by O***N on January 14, 2007* In reading this book, I learned many more things that I have not known. The island with all of it inhabitants shares a rich and tortured history. There seem to be many uncovered facts in this book, such as the Dominican Republic actually obtained it's Independence from Haiti, that Haiti actually took the steps that eventually liberated the entire island. Though much of the time seems to have been spent in the Dominican Republic with many oblique references to Haiti, a fair amount of that time illuminating the perverse dislike each has for the other, in some ways the idea of blaming the party that for obvious reasons is unable to counteract the argument. For the most part this book illuminates much more of the history between the Haitians and the Dominicans, more and more about the immigration issues that seem to rear its erstwhile head in many places, and why folks seem to be driven to improve upon their personal life spaces. How some of these enclaves come to be, and remain that way. Little is discussed about Arristede and many of his predecessors, the wasting of the land itself and how it came to be that many Haitians would eventually choose to live in the Dominican Republic or the United States, or why Haiti is the most impoverished country in this hemisphere by far. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Researched and written well. *by R***R on January 17, 2024* Geertz symbolic views used. Sociocultural angles. Most new to me. No jargon. A plus. ## Frequently Bought Together - Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola - The Dominican Republic Reader: History, Culture, Politics (The Latin America Readers) - The Dominican Republic: A National History --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/1977488-why-the-cocks-fight-dominicans-haitians-and-the-struggle-hispaniola](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/1977488-why-the-cocks-fight-dominicans-haitians-and-the-struggle-hispaniola) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-10-07*