SJS8- "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 is chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department and an associate professor of Black and Latino Studies at Baruch College in New York. He has also extensively studied Cuba's history and culture as well as its contemporary enterprises and economic status. Archibald R.M. Ritter is an emeritus research professor of economics and international affairs at Carleton University. Also, he has expertise in economic relations between developing countries and developed market economies. He has published several works regarding developments in Latin America, especially Cuba. They are coauthors of Entrepreneurial Cuba: The Changing Policy Landscape. Both of the authors' experience and knowledge prove them to be very qualified to discuss the current issues of Cuba.

Summary:
After the 2014 historic agreement between Presidents Barack Obama and Raúl Castro to restore diplomatic relations, the US embargo has began to crumble. Although there is now less of an external embargo on Cuba, it is just a matter of whether or not Castro and the Cuban government will relinquish its tight control over private enterprise and the Internet. Between 1996 and 2006, President Fidel Castro pursued an economic policy that gradually phased out of the pro-market reforms of the 1990s. When Raúl Castro became president in 2006, he eased this resistance to a degree and began to allow for small new enterprises to emerge. The Cuban government is also starting to support business education and implement entrepreneurship workshops as well as provide financial backing for small-business owners. Furthermore, in recent years, Cuba has seen some significant developments in information and communication technology capabilities, including internet access and uncensored news. Even though there have been these developments, the Cuban government has still placed many restrictions on service providers and the electronic gadget market. If American data, service, and hardware providers are given access to the Cuban market, the island's digital media environment will be significantly transformed. In conclusion, the US has opened gates for Cuba's economic and technological developments, and although Cuba has made progress towards being more globally interconnected, President Castro has imposed several difficulties on the country's efforts.

Analysis:
Overall, the authors provided a descriptive explanation of Cuba's internal embargo and how it has affected entrepreneurs as well as public Internet access. They explore the opposing views of the US and Cuba while clearly differentiating between fact and opinion, allowing for an unbiased article. I feel that the US has done everything they could to support Cuba and now it is up to the socialist government of Cuba to allow for increased private enterprise and Internet connectivity, which would allow for a vibrant economy.