Brookings: Topics - Cuba

Latin America Initiative

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:49:21 GMT

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers. Read More

The United Nations Denounces the U.S. Embargo on Cuba … Again

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For the 18th year in a row, the United Nations General Assembly unequivocally calls for the end of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. Ted Piccone examines the long-running dispute between the international community and the United States and offers suggestions for the future of U.S.-Cuba relations.

Natural Disasters: Thinking Beyond Immediate Response

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The tragic earthquake in Sumatra, the tsunami in Samoa and the typhoon that hit the Philippines are just the latest in an increasing number of natural disasters. Last year alone natural disasters affected over 200 million people, killing 16,000 and displacing close to 50 million. Elizabeth Ferris evaluates the international capacity to respond to major disasters and argues that more should be done to reduce their impact.

Crossroads on Cuba: Will Democracy or Sovereignty Prevail?

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ted Piccone writes that the future of the Organization of American States (OAS) depends on how it manages the readmission of Cuba to the regional organization. Piccone urges member states not to depart from the organization’s core democratic and human rights principles.

Obama off to Good Start in Latin America

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Abe Lowenthal writes that among the important accomplishments by President Obama in his first 100 days has been a major step forward in U.S. relations with our neighbors in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lowenthal outlines policies the United States should pursue in the Americas and reminds the administration to keep it simple in the region.

A New Era for U.S.-Cuba Relations on Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 28, 2009, 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM

Preserving Cuba’s biodiversity is critically important to the natural resources and economies of coastal communities in the United States and other neighboring countries. On April 28, the Brookings Institution and the Environmental Defense Fund will host a discussion on U.S.-Cuba relations on marine and coastal resources conservation.

Obama at the Summit of the Americas

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

All things considered, the Summit was a success for the President and for the U.S. writes Kevin Casas-Zamora. He concludes that despite the dearth of immediate results, the mutation in tone under Obama will lead in due course to concrete changes in the U.S. relationship with the region.

A New Policy of Critical and Constructive Engagement with Cuba

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 22, 2009, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

As the White House and Congress struggle to reshape U.S. policy toward Cuba, the Brookings Institution launched a new report on U.S. Policy Toward a Cuba in Transition, entitled Cuba: A New Policy of Critical and Constructive Engagement. Brookings suggests a path forward on travel, trade, human rights and diplomatic engagement – all focused on helping Cubans define a democratic course for Cuba.

The Summit of the Americas and Regional Development Banks

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:51:07 GMT

Mauricio Cárdenas, director of the Latin America Initiative, says the focus of the fifth Summit of the Americas will be the global economic crisis. He also explains that the nations need to agree on strengthening regional development banks and that certain countries need open trade.

Will Obama Retreat on Democracy in Latin America?

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As the Summit of the Americas draws near, Ted Piccone analyzes Obama's debut before the hemisphere’s main gathering of democratically elected leaders and discusses what should come from the meeting. Piccone believes Obama should lead by example by implementing human rights reforms at home and by reminding colleagues they share a responsibility to follow universal democratic standards.

Cuba: A New Policy of Critical and Constructive Engagement

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Obama administration announced changes in U.S. policy toward Cuba, including lifting the ban on some types of travel between the two nations. This change represents a major shift in U.S. policy. A new Brookings report recommends further short-term and longer-term changes.

The Fifth Summit of the Americas: Recommendations for Action

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Leaders of the Western Hemisphere gathered in Trinidad and Tobago on April 17-19, 2009 for the fifth Summit of the Americas. In a series of commentary articles focused on the summit's agenda and key challenges, Brookings experts discuss critical economic, social, energy and climate change issues facing the leaders attending the summit and propose recommendations for policy action.

Weak States and the Summit of the Americas

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:09:56 GMT

Vanda Felbab-Brown previews the Summit of the Americas talks opening this week in Trinidad and Tobago and outlines some of the key political, economic and social issues up for discussion, including the role of the United States.

The Obama Administration and the Americas: Agenda for Change

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 01, 2009, 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

On April 1, Brookings hosted a panel discussion on the upcoming Summit of the Americas and the recently released book, The Obama Administration and the Americas: Agenda for Change (Brookings Institution Press, 2009), edited by Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Abraham F. Lowenthal, Brookings Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of Foreign Policy Theodore J. Piccone and University of Oxford Fellow Laurence Whitehead.

The Obama Administration and the Americas : Agenda for Change

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Obama administration inherits a daunting set of domestic and international policy challenges. The Obama Administration and the Americas, however, argues that the new administration should focus early and strategically on Latin America.

Roadmap for Engagement with Cuba

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Under the auspices of the project “U.S. Policy toward a Cuba in Transition,” nineteen distinguished academics, opinion leaders and diplomats committed themselves to seeking ways to improve U.S.-Cuba policy. A great lesson of democracy is that it cannot be imposed; it must come from within. The project members find that U.S. policy should encompass the political, economic and diplomatic tools that are needed to help the Cuban people find the political space that is essential to engage in and direct the politics of their country.

Use "Smart Power" to Help Cubans

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Vicki Huddleston and Carlos Pascual argue that if President Obama wishes to alter U.S. policy toward Cuba, he has ample authority to do so. Huddleston and Pascual examine Obama's executive authority and note there is no reason the U.S. cannot reach out to the Cuban people and still retain the embargo as a symbol of concern about their government's failure to live up to international norms and human rights.

Communications Embargo on Cuba: Let Them Surf, Not Float

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

While continuing to face dire economic challenges, Cuba has the potential to become a regional economic powerhouse. Kevin Casas-Zamora argues that one hurdle in particular keeps the Cuban economy from advancing: Cuba significantly lags behind the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean when it comes to the use information and communication technologies.

Cuba at Fifty

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

January 1, 2009 marked the 50th anniversary of Fidel Castro's revolution and ascension to power in Cuba. Vicki Huddleston reviews the family feud across the Florida Straits and argues that a changed world offers opportunities to those Cuban Americans and Cubans bold enough to bury the past and build a future friendship among all Cubans and Americans.

Cuban American Opinions Concerning U.S. Policy Toward Cuba and Recent U.S. Election

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 02, 2008, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM

On December 2, The Brookings Institution released the results of a new poll on Cuban American opinion conducted by Florida International University in collaboration with the Brookings Institution and the Cuba Study Group.

The Cuba Wars: Fidel Castro, the United States and the Next Revolution

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 25, 2008, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM

On November 25, the Brookings Institution and the Inter-American Dialogue will host Dan Erikson, Inter-American Dialogue's senior associate for U.S. policy, for a discussion of his new book, The Cuba Wars: Fidel Castro, the United States, and the Next Revolution.

Re-Thinking U.S.-Latin American Relations

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With the opportunity of a new U.S. administration and Congress, Brookings’s Partnership for the Americas Commission released its final report noting the need for a new hemispheric partnership to address key transnational challenges and providing specific policy recommendations on five key areas: energy and climate change, migration, trade, organized crime and drug trafficking and U.S.-Cuban relations.

Re-Thinking U.S.-Latin American Relations: A Hemispheric Partnership for a Turbulent World

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 24, 2008, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM

On November 24, the Brookings Institution hosted the Partnership for the Americas Commission for the release of their report, “Re-thinking U.S.-Latin American Relations: A Hemispheric Partnership for a Turbulent World," which offers a set of policy recommendations to the next U.S. administration to meet the challenges facing the U.S. and Latin America, from economic and poverty policies to security, foreign policy and energy.

Pay Attention to Latin America

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In a new op-ed outlining the recommendations by Brookings’s Partnership for the Americas Commission, co-chairs Ernesto Zedillo and Thomas Pickering detail the need for stronger hemispheric relations and outline five areas for potential policy partnerships for the next administration.

The Odd Couple: The EU and Cuba 1996-2008

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Paul Hare discusses what the European Union policy toward Cuba has achieved, lessons from this relationship, and what role foreign policy plays in a peaceful transition in Cuba.

What to Expect from the Cuban-American Electorate

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Andy Gomez, Benjamin Bishin, Feryal Cherif and Daniel Stevens explore myths and facts about the Cuban-American electorate. The evidence presented by the writers indicates that Cuban-Americans do not hold homogenous beliefs and that the community as a whole is more liberal than conventional wisdom has led observers to think.

The Role of Education in Cuba's Future

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Andy Gomez demonstrates how the role of education in the future of Cuba will be one of the leading factors in transforming the psychological values and attitudes of the population in order to develop a civil society and eventually sustain a democratic state.

Who Will Help Cuba Exploit its Offshore Oil Wealth?

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Vicki Huddleston discusses Cuba's plans to start drilling off the country's coast in order to access billions of barrels of crude oil. Huddleston says that United States companies should get involved and believes continuing to isolate the U.S. from Cuba in a competitive oil market will only hurt in the long run.

The Changing Nature of State Sponsorship of Terrorism

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The current United States approach to state sponsorship of terrorism is flawed, writes Daniel Byman. He suggests that instead of simply managing a list of state sponsors, Washington needs to recognize the complexity of sponsorship, monitor states using a broad definition of what constitutes state sponsorship, and use diplomatic pressure as well as political and economic penalties when needed.

What Impact Are Recent Reforms Having on Cuba's Economy?

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this article from Inter-American Dialogues's America Advisor, Vicki Huddleston discusses the recent economic reforms in Cuba following the transition in leadership from Fidel Castro to his brother Raul. She states that the reforms, if continued, will lead to more personal freedoms and better lives for Cuban citizens.

Toward a Cohesive Cuban Civil Society

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 16, 2008, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

In conjunction with the University of Miami, the Brookings Institution’s project on “U.S. Policy toward a Cuba in Transition” held its third simulation exercise on April 16, 2008, focusing on the dynamics, motivations, and decision-making processes of Cuban civil society groups.

Cuba 2010: Worst-case Scenario Could Become Reality

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As Cuba’s transition from Fidel Castro continues, Vicki Huddleston hypothesizes what the country may look like in 2010 following further changes at the leadership level. She states that one thing likely to remain constant “is the enmity between Washington and Havana.”

Cuba Embargo's Usefulness Has Run Its Course

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Raul Castro’s ascent to power is a reminder that the Cuban revolution likely has survived despite U.S. efforts to bring about the contrary. Vicki Huddleston asserts that continued U.S. economic and diplomatic isolation of Cuba cannot bring about the end of the revolution, but that “if we remove the barriers to communication, we will speed the forces of change.”

Understanding Cuba's Leadership

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

March 04, 2008, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM

On March 4, 2008, Brookings hosted its second U.S.-Cuba simulation exercise, focusing on the internal dynamics, motivations, and decision-making processes of Cuba’s leadership. With the date of the meeting following on the heels of Fidel Castro’s decision to formally step down from power, the exercise called on participants to put themselves in the shoes of an inner circle of advisers to Raul Castro as they meet to assess possible political and economic strategies for the next five years.

Can Raúl Castro Revive Cuba's Private Sector?

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

No single U.S. move would have a greater impact on the direction of Cuban reform than the lifting of travel, trade and financial restrictions, argues Raj Desai. Although Washington's options are severely limited by the current political-economic mood in Latin America, the United States can clear a path for a reformist Cuba to seek its own solutions and to understand the tradeoffs involved in different reform strategies.

The Cuban Economy After Castro

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With Fidel Castro’s resignation as president of Cuba, what is next for the Cuban economy under new leadership? Can Cuban industry reform and what are the historical lessons the new leadership should examine before tackling economic policy changes? Raj Desai examines related issues.

A Dialogue: Engaging the Latin American World

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In October and November of 2007, Brookings Scholars Michael O'Hanlon, Diana Negroponte and Leonardo Martinez-Diaz had an e-mail exchange with prominent Latin American scholars with a variety of perspectives to discuss the issues facing Latin America.

Perestroika Cubana

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Raj Desai explores the question of whether Cuba will follow the "Chinese model" of reform, whereby Communist Party control is maintained alongside a gradual establishment of free-market incentives.

Weak States: America's Potent New Enemy

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Carlos Pascual, Bloggingheads.tv (2/2/07)

The Politics of Dismantling Containment

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

The politics of dismantling containment, article in the Washington Quarterly, winter 2001, by Meghan O'Sullivan, fellow, foreign policy studies, the Brookings institution

Dealing with the States Formerly Known as Rogues

Fri, 13 Jul 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

July 13, 2001 at 12:00 AM

Engaging Problem Countries

Fri, 01 Jun 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Policy Brief #61 by Richard N. Haass and Meghan L. O'Sullivan (June 2000)

Can't Congressional Republicans Give It a Rest?

Thu, 27 Apr 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, April 27, 2000