Cuban Embargo Analysis

In the article, “Why Do We Still Have an Embargo of Cuba?” Patrick Haney explores the history of the embargo and the different factors which have maintained and tightened its restrictions over the past fifty years. The embargo consists of a ban on trade and commercial activity, a ban on travel, a policy on how Cuban exiles can enter the U.S., and media broadcasting to the island. These once-executive orders now codified into law by the Helms-Burton Act, have become a politically charged topic which wins and loses elections, spawned influential interest groups, and powerful political action committees.

Cuba and the United States of America have completely opposite economies. Cuba’s economy is based on the few natural resources that the country owns while the economic system in The United States is capitalist and can be recognized for its noticeable development in agriculture, energy, and other resources that keep the country expanding and provides jobs as well as a good quality of life for its residents. On the other hand, Cuba’s economy, is predominantly poor, to the point where a very huge percent of its population suffers from

The technology is Cuba ass limited because the government only allows certain officials to have access to Internet and certain technological equipment. They would only allow some state workers, artists, and some academics to have Internet access (Silva, 2015). When Obama announced that relations with Cuba would be possible again, the Cuban citizens were hopeful that their access to better and more advances technology would be possible, as well (Silva, 2015). In Cuba, online access will cost about five dollars an hour, which is more than what most Cuban citizens make in one week (Silva, 2015). In more recent years, Cubans have started to use more advanced technology and equipment such as, smart phones, laptops, Blackberry handsets, and some Android devices. The advancements in Cuba are far behind the United States because many of the technological advances that we have in the United States are very simple to retrieve; in Cuba, they are harder.

Many of these factors had either been introduced or improved by Castro and just the idea of having a country that is third world having these factors so long ago is an indication of how beneficial Fidel Castro was to Cuba. The extent to which the US — a superpower — felt threatened by a third world country like Cuba is also an indication of how beneficial Fidel Castro was to Cuba. This source further explains how under Castro there were food shortages, increased rationing and growing scarcities. The introduction of sanctions under Castro’s rule is said to have been damaging because the source these sanctions upset and disadvantaged the middle-class and therefore were a social disadvantage. This source also explores how the suspension of US exports under Castro was damaging as these badly affected people like retail merchants, manufacturers and industrialists and many of them found it difficult to remain in Cuba. Therefore, this particular policy under Fidel Castro proved to be both socially and economically

According to Scola (2014) “It is estimated that only 5 percent of the Cuban population has access to the open Internet”. All Internet connections in Cuba are available exclusively through Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (ETECSA). Because wireless Internet service is not available to the general population, landline Internet is the sole means of connecting people in Cuba to the Internet. The combination of inadequate infrastructure and the government’s deliberate policy which controls access to the internet have produced an extremely slow service that is not widely available throughout the population. With better diplomatic relations with the United States the Cuban government can benefit greatly from telecommunications mostly internet advancements which can positively affect the economy in many ways. First, it can reduce the cost of production. Second, it can increase revenues. Third, it can increase employment through both direct and indirect effects and lastly it provides channels of communication to avert humanitarian disasters and assist in reconstruction efforts. The United States help the Cuban economy to develop the telecommunications by providing the country with many of the technological infrastructures needed to become

A common characteristic of people that tends to show up in many literary works is the overwhelming sense of pride in oneself. Having pride can either lead to positive or negative effects depending on how careful it is used. For example, pride can be a benefit for someone when it involves what they do for a living because it can lead to success and happiness for that person in their particular field; however, pride can also lead to arrogance, stubbornness and, worst of all, the lust for revenge. If pride is not controlled correctly, it can potentially lead to erratic behavior. This is best exemplified in Edgar Allan Poe’s work, “The Cask of Amontillado,” which focuses on the main character, Montresor, who feels as though he should be avenged for Fortunado’s hurtful words towards Montresor. Montresor’s intense pride in himself causes him to plot the destruction of his acquaintance, while Fortunado tries his best to deny Montresor the satisfaction of his attempt at revenge. Not only does Montresor’s pride drive him to do something that he will live with for the rest of his life, but Fortunado’s own pride results in his own demise. Poe seems to be illustrating the point that pride of one’s name can lead to deceptiveness in order to get vengeance; however, the outcome can potentially lead to self-destruction.

Supporters of the legislation believe that prohibiting foreign investment will quicken Castro’s downfall. (Close Up Foundation) Many debate on the issue of why the U.S. should or shouldn’t keep the ebargo against Cuba. These debates deal with the effects of the Embargo on Cuba’s economy, humanitarian rights and health of the people of Cuba. The embargo today places a ban on subsidiary trade, Licensing, shipping and humanitarian aid. (Close Up Foundation) In 1992, the Cuban Democracy act imposed a ban on subsidiary trade with Cuba. This ban restricted Cuba’s ability to import medicines and medical supplies from third country sources. There have also been corporate buy-outs and mergers between U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies thus adding to the number of companies permitted to do business with Cuba. Under the Cuban Democracy Act, The U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments are allowed to license individual sales of medicines and medical supplies, supposedly for humanitarian reasons to make up for the embargo’s impact on health care delivery. According to the U.S. corporate executives, the licensing provisions are so tough as to have had the opposite effect. With this statement, it is assumed that there are fewer licenses given out for humanitarian reason therefore favoring the embargo and aiding in the downfall of health in Cuba. Since 1992, the embargo has prohibited ships from loading or unloading cargo in U.S. ports for 180 days after

To better understand and appreciate the embargo in Cuba, one must examine the history behind an unnecessary act. According per the Editorial Board of The New York Times, the concept of the embargo to the United States Congress is to keep the outdated policy upon the Island of Cuba and its people. Gomez and Szabo from USA Today confirms, “President Obama and Cuban President, Raul Castro, have moved to normalize relations with Cuba without any further consideration of removing the Embargo from the Island any time soon” (Gomez and Szabo). It is time for the embargo to come to an end because this outdated policy has separated

Raul Castro has gradually implanted major economic reforms and lifted travel restrictions, which will help the country strengthen its international position. Because of Raul making huge changes for Cuba, the island has let in allowing Cubans to buy or sell property, expand consumer goods such as, DVD players, microwaves, cell phones and internet service. These small but large changes for Cuba, that Raul changed, is making a huge impact on the isolated island. Now, because of Raul’s changes, the U.S. talks with Cuban officials every 6 months to see how everything is playing out (Frank).

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.

Secondly, Cubaneeds to repair its corrupt, failing state-run economy. The reality of thisstruggling economy is that Cuba’s resources are plenty, and its

When buying computers was legalized in 2008, the private ownership of computers in Cuba soared (there was 630,000 computers available on the island in 2008, a 23% increase over 2007). Internet in Cuba is extensive. The Cuban internet is among the most tightly controlled in the world. A special permit is required to use the internet and all e-mails are intricately monitored. Cuba has been listed as an “internet enemy” by Reporters Without Borders since the list was created in 2006. There are two kinds of online connections are offered in Cuban Internet cafes: a ‘national’ one that is restricted to a simple email service operated by the government, and a ‘international’ one that gives access to the entire internet. The population is restricted to the first one, which cost $1.20 an hour. To use a computer, Cubans have to give their name and address-and if they write dissent keywords, a popup appears stating that the document has been blocked ‘for state security reasons’, and the word processor or browser is automatically closed. In 2011 the government started to allow Cuba to open a small market. Then which they could sells phones and repair electronics. At one market there was only two phones for sale. The LG cost $200, and the Blu cost $100. Both were bargain-basement models, below the quality of given free with service contracts in the

On the 10th February 2016 it was reported that Cuba had made a very historic announcement stating that there will be launching of broadband Internet service in two pilot projects, which means that Cuba’s Internet Isolation will begin to lift (Tummino 2016). This will have a positive effect on Cuba’s economy, educational systems and telecommunications. Cuba has been receiving attention and pressure from the United States to expand their Internet access since 2014 (Tummino 2016). It is assumed that the Cuban government implemented these restrictions to maintain social control over information (Aguirre 2012). This is why the Cuban Internet acted as a corporate Intranet where sites like Facebook or Twitter couldn’t be accessed. After this historic

The embargo has constrained the crossing of the borders for Cuban citizens, the exiles of Cuba and the businesses, its subsidiary to not be able to do their business in Cuba without facing penalties. This embargo has forbid the Cuban citizens’ contact to consumer goods that the United States presented. Cuba’s expansion of its infrastructure has also been limited therefore the country continues to be a poor country.

The American Education system has never been one to instil the values of knowledge and wisdom, but rather a machine used to reinforce hierarchical roles in society. This is evident in the early schooling systems, which sought to educate students just enough to carry out unskilled labor. The management of our unskilled labor forces, however, would be those who were privileged enough to educate their children in schools not limited to assimilation. Schools for the upper-class taught languages and philosophy cultural beliefs that create human beings. As for the lower class citizens who lacked wealth or resources- they were dumped into our public schools. Our education system does exactly what it was created to do: It categorizes individuals. It