Abstract
This paper analyzes the unique development history of Cuba within the context of recovering from the Special Period, in order to draw conclusions about alternative development strategies for countries in the global south. The loss of Cuba’s only trade partner, the USSR, forced Cuba into a severe economic deficit, putting the nation in a position of necessary change. The Special Period prompted an urgency for finding alternative ways of pursuing economic, social, and environmental development; among the most notable changes was the introduction of a mixed economy to bring in capital and foreign investment and a complete restructuring of agricultural practices centered around ecologically beneficial techniques. Though Cuba’s history and political relationships provide a unique development experience, the country’s strides in development, especially while recovering from the Special Period, have been impressively successful. Lessons from Cuba’s accomplishments and struggles should be explored and applied to other countries that have experienced the detrimental consequences of economic dependence on industrialized nations. The ideological battles of the Cold War ingrained a deep rigidity in two major economic systems: capitalism and communism. This rigidity will be the most difficult barrier for other nations to surpass in order to apply successful techniques from Cuba; however, in order to end the perpetuation of national debt in the global south, we must move beyond the rules of distinct political ideologies to find alternative methods of development that truly improve quality of life for all people.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Community Diversity and Governance
KEYWORDS
International Development, Colonialism, Cuba, Soviet Bloc Collapse, Development Measures
