One of the legacies President Barack Obama will leave to his successor is increased foreign policy leverage in Latin America. Nowhere is this more evident than in U.S. policy toward Cuba and Venezuela—and because of those two countries with the rest of the hemisphere.
The reason why some want to “visit Cuba before it’s ruined,” is because they expect that the “charm” of crumbling facades, cheap rum and cigars, old American cars and low prices won’t survive a transition toward a more open economic system. Some fear that as Cuba attracts foreign investment and continues reforming its economy, development and economic growth will fundamentally change what makes Cuba alluring.
Si Cuba efectivamente fuera un país en el cual sus habitantes gozaran de beneficios sociales y buena calidad de vida, como muchos lo afirman, incluyendo el gobierno Cubano y muchos gobiernos en la region, ¿cuál sería entonces la razón por la cual sus ciudadanos desean emigrar?
Sometimes the statements at the UNHRC make the UN human rights body sound more like a comedy club than a serious forum dedicated to human life, security and dignity.
Even in Latin America, a region often thought to share the same democratic orientation and values of the U.S. and Europe, there are some striking differences among groups of countries regarding supporting norms and practices on human rights internationally, with some countries lining up more with autocratic countries of the Global South.
Politics and diplomacy provide the main themes for Latin Pulse this week. The program marks the anniversary of the diplomatic opening between Cuba and the United States with a special interview recorded in Havana. It also follows the complicated corruption scandal in Brazil that has now intersected with the political movement to impeach and unseat President Dilma Rousseff.
As of Thursday, it’s been one year since President Barack Obama announced historic change between the United States and Cuba, and now with embassies restored, commercial flights to Cuba may be coming.
Religion and politics, the so-called taboo subjects provide the central themes for Latin Pulse this week. The program provides a preview of Cuba’s favorite religious celebration, the feast day of San Lazaro. The program also goes in-depth on reaction to the surprising landslide win of opposition groups in Venezuela in that country’s Congressional elections.
Cuba is experiencing a wave of U.S. “unofficial” tourism. Even as the hidebound communist regimes claims it isn’t looking for U.S. investment, the contact with tourists and U.S. communications are changing Cuba from the bottom up.
There’s more that President Obama can do if he wants to cement his legacy of policy change on Cuba.
