The deep, historical roots of Cuban anti imperialism

Domínguez López, E. and Yaffe, H. (2017) The deep, historical roots of Cuban anti imperialism. Third World Quarterly, 38(11), pp. 2517-2535. (doi: 10.1080/01436597.2017.1374171)

Abstract

Colonialism, imperialism and anti-imperialism have been decisive in shaping Cuban political identity for 150 years. US determination to control Cuba, consistent with the Monroe Doctrine, had a strong economic rationale even before Spain was defeated in the War of Independence in 1898. Debate raged between Cubans who aspired to true independence and an annexationalist minority, who favoured union with the US. The Platt Amendment imposed on Cuba by the US in 1903 ‘reduced the independence and sovereignty of the Cuban republic to a myth’. Between then and the Revolution of 1959 Cuba was effectively first a protectorate and then neo-colony of the US, which dominated the Cuban economy, politics and foreign policy. Tackling the terrible socioeconomic and political effects of Cuba’s subjugation under the Spanish empire and then US imperialism necessitated a radical transformation of the Cuban economy, political institutions and power structures. The transition to socialism inevitably meant confronting US imperialism – and vice versa. Since 1959, US imperialism, with its powerful allies in the right-wing exile community based in Miami, have relentlessly tried to destroy the Revolution and Cuban socialism. The issue of imperialism remains key today, in the post-Fidel, President Trump era.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Yaffe, Dr Helen
• Authors: Domínguez López, E., and Yaffe, H.
• Subjects: E History America > E11 America (General); E History America > E151 United States (General); F History United States, Canada, Latin America > F1201 Latin America (General); H Social Sciences > HX Socialism. Communism. Anarchism; J Political Science > JZ International relations
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Economic and Social History
• Journal Name: Third World Quarterly
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0143-6597
• ISSN (Online): 1360-2241
• Published Online: 26 September 2017