Long Term Consequences
Cuban Embargo
Approximately two years after the Cuban Revolution the United States felt pressured to establish the first steps onto the Cuban Embargo (Sierra). Especially after Cuba naturalized U.S. citizen properties and corporations (Sierra). The embargo partially prevents trade between both countries. Although certain parts of the embargo have been lifted and modified the United States publicly announced its refusal to lift the embargo until Cuba attains a greater respect for human rights and democracy (Fleites). Despite the public announcement many believe the Cuban Embargo was placed as a punishment because after the revolution United States control would be less prevalent in the region, especially because the United States government hand picked leaders for Cuba, as long as they cooperated with the United States (Fleites). Immediately after the Cuban embargo was placed Cuba lost a key importer of their sugar cane, one of Cuba’s largest exported products (Suichiki). The Soviet Union agreed to buy some of the sugar and afterwards Cuban trade with Russia consequently increased (Suichiki). In the long term the block prevents many vital resources from being transported to both countries. With its government sponsored respect for science Cuba’s biotechnological and agricultural sectors are fantastic (Fleites). Even though in an attempt to alleviate the effects of the embargo Obama allowed telecommunication companies to operate in Cuba (Fleites). Even though Cuba would highly benefit as their average computer’s internet is as quick as the average American cell phone internet, operations in Cuba would be financially irresponsible (Fleites). It has been argued that although there are obvious economic downfalls to both countries due to the embargo its largest economic impact is not the lack of trade because Cuba can export to other countries but the lack of foreign currency to stimulate and diversify Cuba’s economy (Sierra). For obvious reasons there are many critiques of the embargo especially because the point to resolve Cuba’s lack of association with the United States is irreversible, and data shows that it has a minimal effect on Cuba’s decision making in terms of ethics (Fleites). Immigration and tourism between the two countries had also been restricted as a result of the Cuban Embargo (Suichiki). However a few exceptions are granted, such as when Beyonce and Jay-Z performed in Cuba (Sierra).
Hegemony
In the extremely short span after the revolution, Cuba transformed itself from an insignificant Latin American country into the center stage of the most tense moment of the Cold War. Because of it’s proximity to the US, the cuban island was a very important strategic position, as it allowed the communists to control land that was 90 miles from the mainland of the US (Vandenbroucke) Because of this proximity, the US focused most of its efforts in the late 50’s and early 60’s on the elimination of the Cuban threat. Because of this distraction, less attention was paid to other regions of the Globe. This was especially important to other communist movements in the Third World. Two large communist revolutions happened during the time that The U.S. was focused on Cuba. First, the radical communist party led by Mao Zedong in China gained more power in the years 1958-1961, exactly paralleling the Cuban Revolution (Great). These radical factions in China began the “Great Leap Forward”, a massive campaign to industrialize China and bring it to a position that could rival the great western powers (Great). This revolution was a very important one, but because the U.S. was so focused on the near nuclear war in Cuba, it could not properly respond to this revolution. Second, in 1963, revolutionary forces in the Congo began the revolution that would eventually create the People’s Republic of the Congo, a communist state. It is likely that the distraction of the U.S. was instrumental to allow the congolese to overthrow their government in an obviously Communist way without being interfered with by the West. If, however, the Cuban Revolution and subsequent events had not happened, the U.S. would be ready and willing to fight Communism in the rest of the world. Because of the history of the U.S. of instating authoritative dictators in the place of socialist movements, the consequences of a more capitalist, more authoritarian globe would have lasting consequences today as we finally begin to overthrow these oppressive regimes.
Approximately two years after the Cuban Revolution the United States felt pressured to establish the first steps onto the Cuban Embargo (Sierra). Especially after Cuba naturalized U.S. citizen properties and corporations (Sierra). The embargo partially prevents trade between both countries. Although certain parts of the embargo have been lifted and modified the United States publicly announced its refusal to lift the embargo until Cuba attains a greater respect for human rights and democracy (Fleites). Despite the public announcement many believe the Cuban Embargo was placed as a punishment because after the revolution United States control would be less prevalent in the region, especially because the United States government hand picked leaders for Cuba, as long as they cooperated with the United States (Fleites). Immediately after the Cuban embargo was placed Cuba lost a key importer of their sugar cane, one of Cuba’s largest exported products (Suichiki). The Soviet Union agreed to buy some of the sugar and afterwards Cuban trade with Russia consequently increased (Suichiki). In the long term the block prevents many vital resources from being transported to both countries. With its government sponsored respect for science Cuba’s biotechnological and agricultural sectors are fantastic (Fleites). Even though in an attempt to alleviate the effects of the embargo Obama allowed telecommunication companies to operate in Cuba (Fleites). Even though Cuba would highly benefit as their average computer’s internet is as quick as the average American cell phone internet, operations in Cuba would be financially irresponsible (Fleites). It has been argued that although there are obvious economic downfalls to both countries due to the embargo its largest economic impact is not the lack of trade because Cuba can export to other countries but the lack of foreign currency to stimulate and diversify Cuba’s economy (Sierra). For obvious reasons there are many critiques of the embargo especially because the point to resolve Cuba’s lack of association with the United States is irreversible, and data shows that it has a minimal effect on Cuba’s decision making in terms of ethics (Fleites). Immigration and tourism between the two countries had also been restricted as a result of the Cuban Embargo (Suichiki). However a few exceptions are granted, such as when Beyonce and Jay-Z performed in Cuba (Sierra).
Hegemony
In the extremely short span after the revolution, Cuba transformed itself from an insignificant Latin American country into the center stage of the most tense moment of the Cold War. Because of it’s proximity to the US, the cuban island was a very important strategic position, as it allowed the communists to control land that was 90 miles from the mainland of the US (Vandenbroucke) Because of this proximity, the US focused most of its efforts in the late 50’s and early 60’s on the elimination of the Cuban threat. Because of this distraction, less attention was paid to other regions of the Globe. This was especially important to other communist movements in the Third World. Two large communist revolutions happened during the time that The U.S. was focused on Cuba. First, the radical communist party led by Mao Zedong in China gained more power in the years 1958-1961, exactly paralleling the Cuban Revolution (Great). These radical factions in China began the “Great Leap Forward”, a massive campaign to industrialize China and bring it to a position that could rival the great western powers (Great). This revolution was a very important one, but because the U.S. was so focused on the near nuclear war in Cuba, it could not properly respond to this revolution. Second, in 1963, revolutionary forces in the Congo began the revolution that would eventually create the People’s Republic of the Congo, a communist state. It is likely that the distraction of the U.S. was instrumental to allow the congolese to overthrow their government in an obviously Communist way without being interfered with by the West. If, however, the Cuban Revolution and subsequent events had not happened, the U.S. would be ready and willing to fight Communism in the rest of the world. Because of the history of the U.S. of instating authoritative dictators in the place of socialist movements, the consequences of a more capitalist, more authoritarian globe would have lasting consequences today as we finally begin to overthrow these oppressive regimes.