CUBA'S RESILIENCE TOWARD UNITED STATES' FOREIGN POLICY: THE U.S. LESSONS LEARNED FROM CUBAN PEACE POLICY
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Authors
Micco, Anthony N.
Subjects
United States foreign policy
Latin America
Cuba
North Korea
Iran
lessons learned
Fidel Castro
Obama
democracy
non-democratic regime
embargo
sanctions
immigration
travel
expropriations
agency
autonomy
rapprochement
peace
Latin America
Cuba
North Korea
Iran
lessons learned
Fidel Castro
Obama
democracy
non-democratic regime
embargo
sanctions
immigration
travel
expropriations
agency
autonomy
rapprochement
peace
Advisors
Matei, Cristiana
Mabry, Tristan J.
Date of Issue
2019-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The goal of this thesis is to explain Cuba’s ability to maintain its autonomy against a large state actor, in this case, the United States. Since the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the United States has pursued the goal of regime change in Cuba, replacing the country’s socialist system with a liberal democratic and capitalist model. U.S. policy has consistently applied economic and political isolation to pressure Cuba to change from autocracy to democracy. Nonetheless, Cuba has successfully defended the regime’s interests and remains a sovereign state recognized by the international community. This thesis argues Cuba has resisted U.S. pressures by using a total defense approach that spans across three areas: civilian support for the regime, a professional military, and international engagement. It is important to note that although the United States continues to pressure Cuba to change its system, the two countries have cooperated in the past when the United States liberalized its foreign policies. As a result, this thesis suggests the goal of isolating Cuba may be less successful than economic and diplomatic engagement, a lesson that could be applied to other non-democratic countries.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.