Between Cuba and the U.S. there is a long and controversial history of dependence and conflict. As Cuba struggles to survive the disintegration of the U.S.S.R., its former economic patron, several questions arise. Is Cuba the next Communist "domino"? If not, why not? Can the U.S. do anything constructive at this juncture? To answer, we need to re-examine the major controversies in Cuba's relationship with its often troublesome and demanding neighbor to the north. This course considers twelve themes, from Cuban independence and the legacy of Jose Mart# to current problems of economic organization and democracy, as they are treated in official pronouncements of the Cuban revolutionary regime, travel accounts, polemics by dissatisfied Cuban #migr#s, policy statements of the U.S. government, and a wide range of academic materials. In the first week the entire class will meet once for lecture and discussion on Cuba's colonial heritage and the political economy of sugar. In the next ten weeks we will consider ten themes under a tutorial format. In the final week, we will discuss the twelfth theme, the future of Cuba, in another meeting of the entire group. Requirements: students will write five-page papers for alternate sessions (five papers will be submitted by each student during the semester). Each paper assesses the contending positions within the week's reading and presents its author's own position. Those who are not writing papers are responsible for the reading and for evaluating the work of their tutorial partner of that week. In the tutorial session, essays will be read aloud or presented in outline form, then critiqued by the discussant, and then defended. Papers should be completed and submitted to both the instructor and the discussant at least a day before the session. A short meeting between the presenter and discussant immediately before the session is also recommended. At the end of the course, students will submit a revised version of one of their five papers from the semester. Prerequisites: any course on Latin America or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 10.
MAHON