Cuba

The Strange Case of Cuba's Low Birth Rate

By Sophia Winston
April 26, 2016

In most countries labeled as “developing country,” it is typical for birthrates to be extremely high, while health and education levels are low. But Cuba is an exception to the developing country rule: ever since the Castro Revolution in 1959, even with the label of “developing country,” Cuba has had extremely high levels of education and a world renowned health care system. Another aspect in which Cuba remains an outlier is their birthrate.

Costa Rica Scrambles for Solution to the Cuban Migrant Crisis

By Erin Barton
April 26, 2016

Costa Rica has suspended participation in the Central American Integration System (SICA) in response to the unwillingness of fellow Central American countries—specifically, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize—to work together to find a solution to the Cuban migrant crisis in Costa Rica.1 Upwards of 6,000 Cuban nationals intending to travel through Central America to the United States have been stranded in Costa Rica since November, when Nicaragua refused them entry.2

Cuba’s Cinematic Élan Vital: Cubanidad and Cubanía as Citizenship and Sentiment

By Dunja Fehimovic
April 26, 2016

This article focuses on the current shifts in expressions of Cuban national identity by considering the articulations of cubanidad and cubanía in recent films from Cuba’s Muestra joven, a showcase for new filmmakers organised by the state film institute (ICAIC).

Cuba-US Relations Take New Shape in 2016

On Tuesday, January 26, 2016, the Obama Administration announced that it would loosen trade agreements between the US and Cuba.1 While the embargo between the two countries is still in place, and not likely to be overturned by congress anytime soon, restrictions on exports and shipping have been eased. The new trade agreements will take effect on February 3, 2016 and will allow for goods from the US to go directly to Cuba.

Fidel Castro Responds to Obama's Visit to Cuba

By Sophia Winston
April 16, 2016

A new chapter in Cuban-US relations has begun after President Obama’s recent three day trip to Cuba. Upon landing, he spent his time meeting with Raul Castro, touring the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception, talking with Cuba’s Cardinal, Jaime Ortega, a proponent of US-Cuban relations, and eating at informal residential restaurants called “paladares.” By all accounts, Obama made sure to do as the locals do in order to normalize relations that have been frozen since the 1960s.

Omar Sosa: “A River That Never Rests”

By Alan West-Durán
October 10, 2016

Cuban music has been described as a marriage (successful) between the guitar and the drum. An excellent metaphor, but not entirely accurate because they forgot to mention the piano since there are few countries who have pianists as gifted as Cuba. From the 19th century, with the likes of Cervantes, Saumell,  and Espadero to the 20th , Cuba was blessed with figures such as Roig, Romeu, Lecuona, Lilí Martínez and Peruchín, not to mention Bebo Valdés, Rubén González, and Frank Emilio Flynn.

Raza y Nación: Reflexiones Desacralizadoras ante una Cuba sin Embargo

By Odette Casamayor
October 10, 2016

De generación en generación, perdura en mi familia la leyenda de un negro esclavo, el padre de mi tatarabuela, que un día dicen que se marchó manigua adentro y no volvió a aparecer. Solía mi abuela concluir su relato recordando que aquel negro lucumí se había ido volando a su tierra, y pasaba enseguida a contarme otra historia.

La Marea Rosa: el Caso Venezolano

By Margarita López Maya
October 11, 2016

El pasado noviembre la Universidad de Pittsburgh realizó un Simposio sobre los legados de “La Marea Rosa”, surgida en América Latina desde fines del siglo XX, con la llegada al poder de un conjunto de gobiernos de izquierda. Fue el encuentro una valiosa oportunidad para evaluar comparativamente las diversas experiencias de gobiernos de este signo.

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