SJS 8 - "Overcoming Cuba's Internal Embargo"

Source:

Henken, Ted A., and Archibald R.M. Ritter. "Overcoming Cuba's Internal Embargo."
Current History 114.769 (2015): 73-76. Print.

Author Credentials:

Ted A. Henken was previously the president of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy, and is now currently an associate professor of Sociology and Latin American Studies at the university of Baruch, New York. Archibald R.M. Ritter received his doctorate degree of development economics from the University of Texas, and specializes in development issues in Latin America, more specifically Chile and Cuba.

Summary:

This journal article is about the destruction of the United States – Cuba trade embargo, and how the next major step for Cuba is to release their own embargo that they placed upon themselves. The article begins by giving a brief background on the steps taken by Raul Castro, the current president of Cuba, to modernize the country. One example given by the authors was about how Cuba has been allowing its citizens to follow their entrepreneurial lifestyles. The authors then go on to talk about the opening up of the internet into the secluded island state. Henken & Ritter tell the reader about the new fiber-optic internet line that runs from Venezuela to Cuba, and the fact that there have been over 100 internet cafes opened throughout the country.

Analysis:

The authors of the article present a very strong argument as to where the Cuban government needs to go next in order to assimilate into the new modern world. They argue that the next step for the Cuban government would be to allow American investment and technology into the country. The authors provide sufficient evidence to support this, with a mini time line leading up to the present day (as of publishing). This allows them to present their next logical step for Cuba in a fluid manner.