US Foreign Policy in the Case of U.S. Cuba Relations - Research Paper Example

US Foreign Policy in the Case of U.S. Cuba Relations Introduction Culture plays a significant role on how a society reacts in terms of a nation’s socio-economic development. In line with this, Sen explained that the civil interactions and political activities is strongly influenced by cultural conditions such that people of a nation would normlly enter into a public discussion or interaction to come up with a decision on how these people would accept and react on how the government implements the practice of democracy (Sen, pp. 40 – 47). Likewise, it is culture that molds or influence the formation of values and beliefs within a society (Sen, pp. 42 – 43). In other words, culture influences how people would behave in a political situation. Cuba is the only part of the United States that has remained a communist state. (Cuba Journal; Hanson) To gain a better insight regarding how culture affects the effectiveness of the U.S. foreign policy, this study will focus on analyzing the case of the United States and Cuba back in 1959. After discussing the historical event that took place between the United States and Cuba, the best U.S. foreign policy applicable in the case of Cuba will be identified. As a common knowledge, the U.S. foreign policy follows a strict democratic government. Given that the United States is pro-democratic type of government, the United States has maintained a trade embargo status with Cuba making it illegal for any U.S. corporation to conduct business transactions in Cuba1. During the past 36 years, the United States exerted no effort in changing the trade embargo status between the two countries. Thomas Friedman defines globalization as “the inexorable integration of markets, nation – states, and technologies in a way that it enables individuals, corporations and nations to reach around the world farther, faster and cheaper…” (Kiggundu, p. 9). Based on a pure economic point-of-view, globalization can be defined as “the growing liberalization of international trade and investment which could result to the increase in integration of national economies.” (Griswald) Upon analyzing the definitions of globalization, it is clear that the practice of free trading is not only focused on the global movements of goods and services but also the global traffic of human resources. In the era of globalization, we are currently living in a world that strongly promotes the importance of practicing free trade. As part of improving the economic status of the United States, the U.S. government should stay focus on removing all barriers that would hinder the promotion of free trading around the world. In line with this, this study will discuss whether or not the US foreign policy towards Cuba should maintain its current trade embargo status. As part of going through the main discussion, whether or not the foreign relationship between the United States and Vietnam – which is also a communist state should be considered as a precedent for normalising relations between the United States and Cuba will be justified. Problem Statement This study will focus on addressing the question as to whether or not we have reached the point whereby the US foreign policy for Cuba should start lifting up the trade embargo status. Rationale for Choosing the Research Topic The main purpose of globalization is to promote free trade across the world by removing all possible barriers that will prevent people from allocating the world’s resources more efficiently. (Nanduri, 2006) In line with this, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade Organization (WTO) among others have exerted a lot of effort in removing the global trade barriers to increase economic growth among the developing countries (Mender, Baker, and Korten). Since the Great Depression, Moseley reported that U.S. economic is facing the worst crisis. Under the administration of President Obama, the U.S. governent does not show any intention of liftng the embargo trade against Cuba (Cuba Journal; Hanson). In line with the importance of removing barriers that could hinder the economic development of the United States and Cuba, there is a strong need for us to study the cultural factors that would make the U.S. government consider the idea of removing the trade embargo status with Cuba. Historical Background between the United States and Cuba After Spanish-American war in 1898, Cuba gained independence from Spain (Thomas, p. 3). This gave the United States of America the opportunity to gain a significant influence over the economic and political activities in Cuba. Since then, the United States gradually owned a majority of foreign investment in Cuba. The nature of the U.S. foreign policy is solely influenced by a democratic form of government. Since the U.S. was behind the redevelopment in Cuba after the Spanish-American war, the people in Cuba were unconsciously following the American foreign policy. Under the leadership of Fidel Castro, the people in Cuba were united and decided to go against the democratic practices of the United States (Hanson). In order to cut down the business and political relationship between Cuba and the United States, people in Cuba initiated the Cuban Revolution. After the Cuban Revolution back in 1959, the economic and political relationship between Cuba and the United States ended soon after Cuba won against the U.S. government. Before the Cuban Revolution took place, thousands and millions of women and Cuban citizens who had an African descent suffered a lot from social and racial discrimination (Prevost, p. 138). Due to the unequal educational opportunity between men and women, majority of the women were allowed to work only as a domestic helper and prostitutes. Basically, the Cuban people desired not only to gain national independence from other countries like the United States and the Soviet Union but also to construct a society that is capable of improving its health and educational program without having the people undergo social problems related to racism and sexism. Upon applying the concept of military organization as a basis for communist revolution, the Cuban Revolution took place (Horowitz, p. 566). In the end, the Cuban government gained back its social, political, and economic independence from the United States. Socio-Economic Reasons Why the U.S. Government Should Change Its Foreign Policy in Cuba Continuously Implementing the Trade Embargo Policy on Cuba will not Remove Fidel Castro’s Government in Cuba Between the years 1960 – 1962, the US government implemented the trade embargo as a way of stopping Cuba from helping the revolutionaries and to remove its troops in Africa among others (Sullivan; Smith). Given the fact that the implementation of trade embargo against Cuba existed for almost 40 years now, it is highly recommended for the current U.S. government to consider this particular U.S. foreign policy as something that is already obsolete and has to be reconsidered for a change (Smith). Over the years, we have already witnessed that continuing the implementation of trade embargo is not effective in terms of removing the Fidel Castro government in Cuba. This is primarily due to the fact that the influence of cultural values, beliefs, and attitudes of the people on the way Cuba evolved is very hard to break. As explained by Harrison, culture plays a crucial role in explaining why some societies or ethno-religious groups economically perform better as compared to a democratic type of governance such as in the case of the United States (p. 1). Implementation of Trade Embargo in Cuba Disrupts Local and International Business Opportunities For close to four decades, the United States is not gaining much economic benefits out of implementing the trade embargo in Cuba. Cuba is known for its massive production of sugar cane and tobacco aside from fishing, nickel ore and fruit plantation (Cuba). Imposing the trade embargo in Cuba seized the export trading opportunities of agricultural products down to zero value. Considering that Cuba is located in south of Florida close to the Bahamas aside from its situation in the Caribbean Sea (Cuba a), thousands of businessmen throughout the United States and other US allies are actually losing a lot of business opportunities because of the implementation of trade embargo policy on Cuba. Since the Congress decided to amend the trade embargo back in 2000, Hanson reported that a lot of large U.S. companies managed to export approximately US$710 million worth of food and agricultural products to Cuba. In line with this, it is clear that the US government’s refusal to negotiate with Cuba only hurts the U.S. and international economy in the sense that the U.S. and other allies will not have the opportunity to have a reasonable compensation for the Americans’ lost of properties and profits out of operating business in Cuba (Cuba a). Even though the implementation of trade embargo in Cuba limits the economic progress of Cubans, it does not entirely prevent the Cubans from enjoying economic progress that comes from increased foreign remittances and the country’s growing dependency on tourism (Cooper, Kennelly, and Ordunez-Garcia; Hanson). Considering this point of view, the U.S. government’s decision to isolate Cuba from its economic and political activities and Cubans’ decision to practice communism only strengthen Cubans’ ability to improve its tourism, healthcare and educational system (Hanson; Spiegel). Implementation of Trade Embargo in Cuba Directly Violates the US Trade Law and International Law Globalisation has resulted from many years of human inventions and technological improvement such that it focuses on the integration of global economic activities by promoting endless trading of products and services from one country to another. (Steger, 2003: p. 37) Even though the U.S. trade law is totally against the practice of unfair trading practices (HG.org), we may conclude that the U.S. policy on Cuba violates the law of free trading. Since 1994, the Summit of the Americas exerted an effort to unite and implement a single free trade throughout the US (ibid). Similar to the U.S. trade law, international trade law aims to promote open exchange of goods, capital and services across the international borders and/or territories (International Trading). In line with this, it is obvious that the U.S.’s effort to continuously implement the trade embargo in Cuba is illegal in the sense that it obviously violates the international free trade law (Smith). Since 1990s, the US government’s decision not to lift the trade embargo and its refusal to sell food and medicine to Cubans as stated in the Cuban Democracy Act (CDA) in 1992 and Helms-Burton Act in 1996 violates the international law (Smith; Kirkpatrick). As a negative result, people in Cuba experienced not only a significant shift in its business target but also the worst epidemic of neurological diseases. U.S.’s Decision to Remove the Trade Embargo against Cuba will Increase the Number of its Allies and Normalizes the U.S.-Cuba Relationship The incidence of cold war between Cuba and the United States has been over for almost 40 years. For this reason, lifting the trade embargo policy against Cuba could open a lot of new business and political relationship in the near future. Rather than disengaging the potential business activities in Cuba, there is a strong chance that the U.S. government would eventually develop a better relationship with Cuba in case Obama’s administration would eventually decide to lift the embargo trade on Cuba. In case the embargo trade on Cuba will be lifted, there is a strong possibility that the U.S. government will increase the total number of U.S. allies around the world aside from normalizing the relations between U.S. and Cuba (Sullivan; Smith). Discussion Ever since the Fidel Castro assumed power back in 1959, the relationship between Cuba and the United States remained unstable (Hanson). Cuba’s strong cultural beliefs and acceptance of communism became a barrier in terms of establishing a strong economic, social, and political relationship with the United States. Upon analyzing the case between Cuba and the United States, it was Castro’s firm decision to rule the state in a communist way prevents Cuba from maintaining a good relationship with the rest of the states in the U.S. (Hanson). The case of U.S.-and-Cuba is very much similar with the case between the U.S.-and Vietnam. In the past, the United States was very much focused on promoting democratic type of government around the world. In line with this, the U.S. government’s effort to eliminate communism has triggered the U.S. politicians to initiate war against foreign countries including Cuba. Under the leadership of the Bush administration, the U.S. government has been very keen on using coercive power and war in order to convince other state and countries to support the spread of democracy around the world. In line with this, we have also witnessed how this type of political strategy failed to make the U.S. government accomplish its long-term desires over the act of manipulating and invading other territories. Because of globalization, this particular political strategy is not effective since it would only narrow down the U.S.’s global market and trading opportunities. To cope with the economic crisis the U.S. economy is currently facing, there is a strong need for the U.S. government to consider changing some of its existing foreign policies for the benefit of all people. In line with the process of changing these policies, the U.S. government should always consider the impact of cultural factor in politics. Back in 1994, President Clinton lifted its trade embargo against Vietnam as a way of normalizing its diplomatic relations (Current Events). Because of the U.S. president’s decision to lift the trade embargo against Vietnam, Vietnam immediately promised to cooperate with the U.S. in terms of identifying and returning the remains of 2,238 U.S. soldiers after 19 years since the Vietnam War in 1975 (Glass). Eventually, the Vietnamese government managed to identify some of the U.S. soldiers’ remains. During the globalization era, it is necessary on the part of the United States to build good business and political relationship with as much foreign country as possible. As part of boosting the U.S. economy in the past, President Clinton initiated his first visit in Vietnam as a way of improving the U.S. foreign relation with Vietnam back in 2000 (Cockburn; This Day in History). In line with this matter, gradually removing the U.S. implemented trade embargo against its enemies including Cuba can be considered as an international political strategy that is effective in terms of enabling the United States to enter into reconciliation with its foreign enemies (Greenhouse). Under the present Obama’s administration, there are many people voting for the need to end the U.S. embargo against Cuba (BBC News). Likewise, most of these people wanted the travel restriction to be lifted (ibid). Conclusion Cultural factor plays an important role in influencing how a society would react towards a political and economic situation. Although David Landes argued that culture does not really cause a significant difference in foreign policy (Harrison and Huntington), Harrison explained that “the cultural environment importantly influences the process through which leaders gain their positions, the priorities they apply in shaping policies, and the people, institutions, and practices they use to execute those policies” (p. 4). Since the civil interactions and political activities in Cuba is strongly influenced by cultural factors, the U.S. government should learn to respect the beliefs, traditions, and political practices of people in Cuba. For instance: Cuba is practicing communism and refuses to participate in the democratic type of government the U.S. is practicing. Therefore, the U.S. government should simply accept the decision of people in Cuba to remain as a communist state rather than using foreign policy to manipulate another state or country to implement a democratic type of ruling. In order to increase the efficiency of the U.S. foreign policy, the U.S. government should always consider the influence of culture as a key factor that will make the policy more effective (Hanson, p. 2). The main reason why the U.S. government imposed the trade embargo in Cuba was to convince the state to follow a democratic way of running the state. The fact that President Bush chose to ignore the essence of culture the time the Bush administration imposed the trade embargo in Cuba made the administration failed to accomplish its goal. In the past, U.S. government was very much focused on controlling other countries to implement democratic type of government. However, the practice of global trading is essential part of economic success since the 2000s. Because of the recent U.S. economic crisis, it is necessary on the part of the U.S. government to start re-building and re-shaping the purpose of its foreign policies towards its enemies including Cuba. The U.S. government’s decision to uplift the trade embargo against Vietnam can be considered as a precedent for normalizing relations between the United States and its foreign enemies. By lifting the trade embargo which was implemented against Cuba, the U.S. government will have the opportunity to re-establish the political and economic trust with the Cubans. By doing so, it is expected that not only will the American businessmen but also the U.S. allies to gain economic, social, and political benefit out of establishing business in Cuba. Likewise, maintaining a good relationship with Cuba will bring new opportunity on the part of the U.S. government to renegotiate with the Cuban government regarding the possible compensation for the lost properties and profits during the past U.S.-Cuban trading activities (Smith). Considering the fact that we are living in a globalized world, it is time for the U.S. government to consider the need to lift the embargo trade on Cuba. This particular political decision could contribute to the economic improvement of the United States and Cuba. Likewise, it will also open a new opportunity for the U.S. government to negotiate with the huge amount of investment loss in Cuba way before the Cuban Revolution happened back in 1959. Aside from lifting the trade embargo, the U.S. government should also consider removing the prohibition on the sale of foods and medicines to Cuba. This is necessary to enable the U.S. government normalize its long-lost relationship with Cuba. *** End *** References "BBC News." 31 December 2008. Timeline: US-Cuba relations. The US has long sought the end of President Fidel Castro's regime and has had an economic embargo in place against Cuba since 1960. BBC News tracks the rocky relationship between the two countries. . 21 September 2009 . Cockburn, Patrick. "Independent." 3 February 1994. 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