Learning for the Cuban and Nigerian Revolution

After it became officially globally acknowledged that Cuba was in fact a communist state and was being led through a dictatorship run by Castro, it did not take long before powerful enemies and essential allies were formed. The act of seizing all foreign land with none or very little compensation was received with great hostility amongst those who lost in their property through this process, and probably the reaction that had the biggest impact on Cuba’s economy was that of the US. Castro’s communistic policies did not of course help calm this resentment and also took part in leading to the establishment of trade embargos with Cuba from the US. This meant that Cuba would now lose a very valuable buyer of their precious sugar, [5] but they did however gain another one, a powerful nation that shared quite similar Marxist ideals and were quick to form an alliance with the Cubans, the USSR.

In 1959, Cubareceived 74 percent of its imports from the US, and the US received 65 percentof Cuba’s exports. On February 3, 1962, the United States imposed a fulltrade embargo on Cuba, completely ending any type of trade between the twocountries. This embargo remains in effect today, more than four decades later,and has grown ! to be a huge center of debate and controversy (DeVarona 8).Opponents to the embargo argue that the embargo does nothing more than hurt theCuban people, while proponents argue that the embargo places pressure on Castroto repair Cuba’s mismanaged and corrupt government. Both the supportersand the opponents of this embargo have strong arguments and evidence to supportthese

As also stated by Mr. D’angelo, in a personal interview about the Cuban embargo, “Yes I think it will last until Cuban reforms, change in Cuban leadership…” This shows that many people, including professionals believe that the embargo will not end soon without the removal of the Castro’s. This idea of no Castro in the government makes sense since many speculate that even though Fidel is no longer is power he still has some influence over what his brother does. Vividly depicted, this is shown by a passage made by Catharine Moses from her book: “They might not like him, they might complain about him, might see his failing and might blame him for all the countries problems, but he is Fidel. He is in control of the island…”(pg. 7) In compliance, this just shows that many still believe he holds power and some hold truth to their hearts that it is Fidel’s Cuba. On an other aspect that goes hand and hand with the Cuban democracy Act is the declaration of John F. Kennedy that states that the goal of the embargo is to submit Cuba’s government into giving up its communist government. Evidently, this was the main goal of the embargo and Cuba has not, and for the foreseeable future, will not change its government from the communist one that it is known for. An idea and aspect that is clearly shown and supports the idea of containment, is that the embargo also

The United States embargo of Cuba has its roots planted in 1960, 53 years ago, when “the United States Congress authorized President Eisenhower to cut off the yearly quota of sugar to be imported from Cuba under the Sugar act of 1948… by 95 percent” (Hass 1998, 37). This was done in response to a growing

This article details the history of the Cuban embargo, tracing its evolution as a tool of retaliation for the seizure of American property, as a weapon in the Cold War against the Soviet Union and its Cuban allies, and finally as an instrument of American policy for the promotion of democracy and human rights. The article then examines the actual impact of the embargo on human rights in Cuba today and highlights the contradiction between the embargo’s avowed political purpose and legal rationale-the promotion of human rights-and its actual consequences, which are harmful to human rights generally. The article suggests that, by harming Cubans ' economic, social, educational, cultural, and family rights, the embargo violates basic norms widely

Cuba and the Affects of the Embargo The island nation of Cuba, located just ninety miles off the coast of Florida, is home to 11 million people and has one of the few remaining communist regimes in the world. Cuba’s leader, Fidel Castro, came to power in 1959 and immediately instituted a communist program of sweeping economic and social changes. Castro allied his government with the Soviet Union and seized and nationalized billions of dollars of American property. U.S. relations with Cuba have been strained ever since. A trade embargo against Cuba that was imposed in 1960 is still in place today. Despite severe economic suffering and increasing isolation from the world community, Castro remains committed to communism. (Close Up

On February 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed an embargo on Cuba due to their Communist threat. Recently, the 50th anniversary of this same embargo, marked the continuing relationship upheld by The United States and Cuba. The United States created the embargo, in hopes that it would pressure the Cubans into adopting their Democratic policies. This embargo has not only failed, but has detracted from it’s goal of spreading democracy in Cuba. Additionally, it has hurt the American economy, costing the United States roughly $5 billion annually in lost exports. Many have recognized that it is through free trade not isolation, that democracy can be promoted within Cuba. The exposure cultural freedoms found in free trade would lead to economic

Before beginning my paper, I will give a very brief summary of the actions which caused the original embargo against Cuba in 1960 and the actions the US has taken since then. Reviewing this brief timeline will help to examine and critique the reasoning behind the embargo.

Recently, the relationship between Cuba and the United States has been a leading story in the news. It has been reported that the U.S. government is heading towards normalization with the tiny island country. This is in contrast to the history of the two countries. Beginning directly after the communist revolution in Cuba, which began in the late 1950’s, the two countries halted all diplomatic relations. Additionally, the conditions in Cuba worsened, and the economy crashed. Since 1980, hundreds of thousands have left due to the horrible circumstances. Led by Fidel Castro, the communist revolution in Cuba has been a failure because the standard of living collapsed and continues to fall behind other countries.

Cuba no longer had the Soviets’ support, which had previously been an instrumental part of their resilience throughout the war. Yet, the United States refused to normalize relations or make amends with the vulnerable country. Author Jorge I. Domínguez noted, “Cuba repatriated its troops, stopped its military assistance to insurgencies, and began to conform to a world market economy” (pg. 4). Post-Cold War, the United States should have extended its reprieve and apologized for its years of wrongdoings. Cuba had proven itself as a powerful force, a struggle that they had long undergone for decades, despite great odds. Instead, the United States devised the Helms-Burton Act, a policy that endured U.S. embargo against Cuba—one of many modern “lineal descendants of the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary” (Domínguez, pg.12). U.S. policymakers and officials failed to learn from their same mistakes that put the two nations in such a place. To prove this point again, President Clinton was even considering military intervention in Cuba before agreeing upon the implementation of the Helms-Burton Act. The subsequent presidents after Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy seemed to have forgotten the deleterious effects of intervention of all

In order to advance in this development, governmental regulation must be set in place as well as, the political and social system, without intrusion. In a press release, Raul Castro Ruiz stated, “We will never accept the imposition of any condition that is harmful to the sovereignty and the dignity of our Homeland” (Cubaminrex, 2016). The result of these meetings is a “four packages of regulations” announced by the US government to relax some aspects of sanctions against Cuba. These agreements are planned by the economic, commercial and financial blockade unilaterally planned by Washington since 1961 (Cubaminrex, 2016). The island of Cuba accepts the new affiliations with the United States, through the process of negotiations, openness, and patience. The undisputed conflict had ceased, the current embargo lifts shaped a dissimilarity in both Cuba and the United States. The embargo has been in progress even before Fidel came into power. The United States embargo against Cuba has been imposed since the 1960s when president Batista was in

The dispute between the U.S and Cuba dates back more than two centuries. Centuries within which some say conflict primarily arose due to the United States’ attempts to exercise and impose its governing concepts upon Cuba; ignoring the islands own right to independence and sovereignty (Hernandez, 2008). Following relentless turmoil, in the year 1960 the United States broke off relations with Cuba and imposed a trade embargo-a ban on trade. Most recently, President Obama issued the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Cuba, relations of which have been non existent now for a little over the half century that the embargo has been in place (Baker, 2014). This restoration of relations will now allow for the U.S exportation of telecommunications and goods, as well as permit expanded travel for Americans and open banking relations between the nations (Spetalnick & Hughes, 2015). I believe this ultimate policy shift could do one of two things, potentially help the seemingly socio-economically stagnant Island of Cuba globalize or destroy its sovereignty and exploit its members. Thus I raise the question of: will having the United States of America restore ties with Cuba serve to benefit the Caribbean Island?

Nearly fifty-five years ago, an embargo was placed on Cuba, halting all trade between the two countries. Fidel Castro led the Cuban Revolution, which began in July of 1953, leading to their victory and the previous leader, Fulgencio Batista, being driven out of his position. Castro had gained a lot of support from Cuban citizens with his promises to restore political and civil liberties. Castro later began to stray from these promises, starting by nationalizing American businesses within Cuba and by presenting anti-American actions. In 1960, he began talks with the Soviet Union and moved toward communism leading to America creating the embargo in 1961. The embargo was put mainly put in place to contain the spread of communism to other South American countries. The terms to lift the embargo included, the revocation of their communist ways and move toward democracy, and to improve the freedom of the individuals whom live on the island. These have both yet to have happened, yet fifty-four years later, the embargo is still firmly in place. Lifting the embargo can fix issues related to the Cuban people, it can bring countless trade opportunities, and it can push for positive changes in Cuba. Therefore, the United States should lift the embargo on Cuba.

Nearly fifty-five years ago, an embargo was placed on Cuba, halting all trade between the two countries. Fidel Castro led the Cuban Revolution, which began in July of 1953, leading to their victory and the previous leader, Fulgencio Batista, surrendering from his position. Castro was an American friend and had gained a great deal of support from Cuban citizens with his promises to restore basic, essential liberties. Castro later began to stray from these promises, starting by nationalizing American businesses within Cuba following by presenting anti-American behavior. In 1960, he initiated talks with the Soviet Union and began to progress toward communism, leading to America creating the embargo in 1961. The embargo was mainly put in place to contain the spread of communism to other South American countries. The terms to lift the embargo included, the discontinuation of their communist ways and move toward democracy, and to improve the freedom of the individuals whom live on the island. These have both yet to have happened, yet fifty-four years later, the embargo is still firmly in place. Lifting the embargo can fix issues related to the Cuban people, it can bring countless trade opportunities, and it can push for positive changes in Cuba. Therefore, the United States should lift the embargo on Cuba.

Able to weather a variety of political leaders, economic events, and historical eras, the U.S. embargo of Cuba is the longest and harshest embargo by one state against another in modern history. Following Castro’s overthrow of the Batista government in 1959 and threats to incite revolutions elsewhere in Latin America, the Unites State cancelled its trade agreement to buy Cuban sugar. Then, following a series of increasing hostile events, the United States severed diplomatic relations and initiated a full trade embargo in 1962. Trade between the United States and Cuba stopped. Spurred by the collapse of communism more than thirty years later, Congress