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U.s. Cuba Relations : A Discussion Of Constructivism And Realism

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U.S. – Cuba Relations: A Discussion of Constructivism and Realism

During the Cold War, relations between Cuba and the United States were icy. Cuba was allied with the USSR, America’s enemy, and was well within their sphere of influence. With events like the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis happening on their soil, Cuba was at the center of the Cold War. Between ideological differences and their alliance with Russia, Cuba became an enemy of America as well. It took the efforts of ten American presidents, six Popes, and countless other actors, but Cuba and America are finally in the process of normalizing relations. There is still work to be done, but the path is clear and the time is right. However, one cannot simply ignore the last fifty years. In that time, millions of lives were affected by the lack of social, economic, and political ties between the U.S. and Cuba. In this paper, I will analyze the last fifty years of U.S. - Cuban relations by looking at the involved actors, their means, and their values and interests through the lenses of two paradigms, realism and constructivism.

Constructivism can best be understood as a focus on the social context and landscape in which international relations occur. As a lens of understanding, constructivism emphasizes issues of identity and belief. This lens is especially helpful in understanding relations between America and Cuba. America is a state that stands strongly for democracy and its goal in many

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