Cuba after the Fall of the Soviet Union - 2330 Words

Illustrate the changes that have occurred in Cuba since the breakdown of the Soviet Union at the end of the 1980’s and this has affected Cuba’s current situation. ‘El Periodo Especial en el Tiempo de Paz’ From late 1989, the world watched as the Soviet Bloc started to demise and less than two years later in December of 1991, the entire Soviet Union collapsed. Since before the revolution Cuba had, had close connections with the Soviet Union and when the Revolution started in 1959, the Soviet Union became Cubas ‘sugar daddy’. The collapse of the Soviet bloc in 1989 spurred a huge fiscal crisis for Cuba from 1991, this financial meltdown occurred due to the huge decline in trading and foreign exchange receipts and so began the Periodo Especial. ‘The ‘Special Period’ became institutionalised later to signify the extended period of deprivation that ensued and the long haul out of recession. By being called ‘special’ and a ‘period’ it always conveyed a sense of the ephemeral. Implicit in the name is the notion that the situation is temporary, the bad times would eventually pass.’ (Wilkinson, 2008: 2) The Special Period started in 1990 and saw Cuba lose around 80% of its exports and imports and the GDP of the country drop by 34%, food and medical supplies stopped arriving and there were severe shortages in hydrocarbon energy, with these shortages in energy, came huge shortages in food and therefor lead to health problems all over the country, this period was also known as â€Å"elShow MoreRelatedCuban Revolution By Andrew Caminiti1476 Words   |  6 Pagesout why we go all the way back to 1868 when the United States defeated the Spanish Army giving Cuba its independence. The Cubans elected Fulgencio Batista who did not allow any more elections to take place. This angered many and a new revolution leader formed, Fidel Castro. Fidel overthrew the Batista Regime and named himself dictator. He started close economic ties with the Soviet Union. Shortly after this the United States ended any ties with the Cuban government. The causes of the Cuban RevolutionRead MoreCuba s Current Gros s National Income Per Person Of $ 5890 ( Talley )1433 Words   |  6 PagesJason Lee Captain Czak History 300 21 October 2016 Cuba Cuba’s current gross national income per person of $5,890 (Talley), enormous debt, and other poor economic conditions can be explained by events tracing back post-World War II in 1945. The island of Cuba was inhabited by different Mesoamerican cultures but introduced to European cultures in 1492 with the arrival of Christopher Columbus. Spain began to colonize Cuba among other Caribbean islands in the 16th century and utilized the island asRead MoreCuban-Russian Relations1710 Words   |  7 Pageson the Soviet Union divided both the leadership and the country at large. With a relationship dating back to before Fidel Castro’s installment into power, Russia and Cuba have both played major roles in the development and regression of each other’s economies and societies. The first official diplomatic relationship between the Soviet Union and Cuba began developing during World War II, in 1943. With the establishment of the first Soviet embassy by Maxim Litvinov, stationed in Havana, Cuba; thisRead MoreEssay about Karl Marxs Communist Manifesto1353 Words   |  6 Pagescountries that I am talking about are the Soviet Union, or Russia as it is called today, the Peoples Republic of China, and Cuba. Communism is a theory that states that society should own all property. There should be no private ownership and labor is organized so that all members of society will benefit. Communism is based on the theories of Karl Marx and writing, â€Å"The Communist Manifesto.† The start of communism in the Soviet Union took place in October of 1917. At thisRead MoreU.s. Relations Between The United States And Cuba843 Words   |  4 Pagesrecent months, the media has been in a frenzy with the topic of the new emerging relations evolving between the United States and Cuba. This new development, following merely years after Raul Castro was succeeded by his brother Fidel, prompted an inquiry. Why new relations now? Has there been a significant current event to prompt the end to a 50 year embargo? Is Cuba becoming more liberal? Or is the United States merely become more sensible? In essence, we are aiming to unearth the underlying forcesRead MoreThe Cold War And The Soviet Union980 Words   |  4 Pagespropelled America into World War II from 1939-1945. After War World II, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as world powers, and the competition for the restructuring of Europe and the world was on. In the race for economic expansion, Am ericans loyalty and patriotism was tested influencing an urge to conform. However, the following events such as The Cold War, Containment, Domino Theory, Containments failure, Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Fall of Communism all contributed to the United StatesRead MoreFrom The Dropping Of The Atomic Bombs On Japan In 19451498 Words   |  6 PagesFrom the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan in 1945 to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the United States of America has pursued a foreign policy of containment to curb the spread of Soviet communism throughout the world. The U.S. spent billions of dollars during the Cold War period on foreign policies of containment, but is criticized that these strategies were ineffective in containing the spread of communism. In 1946, The Long Telegram, put forth by the father of the containment theoryRead MoreGlobal Effects Of The Cold War1311 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States and the Soviet Union. There are numerous reasons as to why many bel ieved the Cold War commenced, one being that the Soviet Union wanted to spread its belief of communism worldwide, which in turn alarmed the democratic American society. This decades long war had numerous long-lasting impacts on the global world, as did decolonization. Major cold war events included: the build up of huge armories of atomic weapons and ballistic missiles by the U.S and the Soviet Union, formation of NATORead MoreU.s. Cuba Relations : A Discussion Of Constructivism And Realism1329 Words   |  6 PagesU.S. – Cuba Relations: A Discussion of Constructivism and Realism During the Cold War, relations between Cuba and the United States were icy. Cuba was allied with the USSR, America’s enemy, and was well within their sphere of influence. With events like the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis happening on their soil, Cuba was at the center of the Cold War. Between ideological differences and their alliance with Russia, Cuba became an enemy of America as well. It took the effortsRead More fidel castro Essay866 Words   |  4 Pagesinvolved three countries. United States of America, Cuba and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). Fidel Castro is a Cuban revolutionary, who took control of Cuba in 1959 and established a Communist dictatorship. Castro, who was born in Mayari, became the leader of an underground, anti-government faction. In 1956, he led a rebellion that won increasing popular support. Eventually Castro forced Batista y Zaldivar, who was the premier of Cuba to flee the country. Once in power Castro executed