GLOBALIZATION: CUBA

Cuba is known for its cigars, food, music and Fidel Castro amongst many things. The population of Cuba is 11,365,124. The country’s population has only increased by 2% over the last seven years. As of August 2007, only 2% of Cuba’s population is currently online. That’s 240,000 people online as opposed to 60,000 in 2000 (only 0.5%). So why the increase in Internet usage? . Only luxury those staying in luxury hotels in Cuba have access to global television news stations, so many of those who have access to the Internet are beginning to find their media, especially news, online. This increase is actually impressive considering Cubans have to have a permit form the government to own a computer or access the Internet. Only four Internet providers exist in Cuba through a single gateway that the government controls. Some Cubans access the Internet through providers designated for tourists and foreigners. They are able to do this by purchasing illegal, black market access codes. The Cuban government has begun to limit Internet access more by putting measures in place to inhibit those using illegal access codes. The government is outraged that people believe this is censorship and say it is for the greater good. They also control 73% of the country’s phone service, landline and mobile. The cellular phone use is very restricted. In 2006, only 152,700 mobile phones were legally in use by Cubans. Visitors to the nation have even been ‘strongly advised’ to leave their camera phones behind while in Cuba. The government fears they will take photographs that could be detrimental to Castro’s regime and send them to people outside the country. Even the song Mala Leche by the band Moneda Dura has been banned from radio play in Cuba due to its apparent criticism of the public transportation system amongst other things. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=2j-THYa5z1Y)

Even with the communist presence in Cuba, music is very popular and has a great presence in the nation. Cuban music has been very influential in many musical styles throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. There have even been famous music stars from Cuba such as Gloria Estefan and Al Jourgensen of Ministry fame, as well as famous actors like Andy Garcia and Desi Arnaz from I Love Lucy.





With all the culture, inventiveness and history of the Cuban culture, what has happened to make it so difficult for the people of Cuba to prosper and expand their technological and economic status? To find the reasons behind their current culture and society, we have to look into the history of the nation and its people.

To understand Cuba as a country, one must look back at its tense political history in its relation to America. It was brought into the limelight in 1962 when the world held its breath in the face of nuclear war. Cuba is located “90 miles off the coast of America” so when Russian nuclear weapons were constructed, President John Kennedy had to begin negotiating immediately. America is not one to hold grudges, but “2003 saw the end of the ban on American travel to Cuba”. It took 41 years for our countries to be on good enough terms with each other for us to allow direct travel and trade. From this we can infer that Cuba has a fairly open future ahead of it because American tourism to their tropical island will spark their economy.
When the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1989, the Cuban economy took a huge hit and lost “85% of their exports.” This accounted for a large poverty rate and difficult times for many Cuban people. With trade opened to America, Cuba can export many natural, agricultural and constructed products. To name a few, “ Sugarcane, Tobacco, Citrus, Coffee beans, Salt and minerals” are all shipped out of Cuba daily. Prior to the lifting of the trade embargo, “Russia, Canada and Spain” were all countries to which Cuba shipped.


So what does one think of when they hear of Cuba? Perhaps you think of Fidel Castro and the Communistic government and neither of which sound very good. So what does Cuba hear about America? Cuban Media is riddled with Pro-Castro propaganda and anti-American Semitism. The only form of media that Cuban people are exposed to is television and radio because “Internet access is restricted unless you have permission from the government.” When you really think about it, Internet is the most free spirited type of media you can have because you control what you see. American perspective of Cuba is skewed as well however, as it is a tropical paradise.





Many people believe that as time takes its coarse, Cuba will become a rich a wealthy country. It is going through a time of political unrest and Castro is still oppressive over his people, but hopefully trade with the America’s will spark economic growth. I think that if Cuba wants to keep up with the rest of the world they will have to make some changes to their governmental structure and become very open to tourism. American’s have an idea of Cuba being an unruly, unsafe location for societal tension, when it needs to make people think of beachfront vacations for everyone to enjoy.



America typically, has not consumed other countries' cultural products. Soccer, the number one sport in the world, has only just begun to make some head way into the American culture. Movies have been better welcomed by Americans, specifically those from Asia such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden dragon", "Hero" and "The House of Flying Daggers". As proof, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon grossed http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190332/business) about 128 million dollars in the United States alone.


America is inarguably the tastemaker in the globalized media and culture. For example, MTV as a cultural experience has "invaded" so many countries media landscape. There are now several version of MTV being localized and broadcast to several ethnic groups. An example is MTV Base Africa, which broadcasts MTV programming for the entire continent. The interesting thing to note is that, while MTV does take notice of the local artistes and makes sure to represent them in the programming they provide, they still include American artists and shows. The effect of this is the creation of a common denominator of music and shows that all countries, continents and ethnic groups are aware of. However, the market penetration in the United States for artists who are large everywhere else in the world is minimal. History has shown that foreign acts are not as commercially successful in the United States. An example is...

This question of national identity relies heavily on perspective. One can say that the old American cultural landscape (or what was reflected of it) is markedly different from the new American cultural landscape simply because the newer landscape has more diversity reflected in it. On the other hand, one could argue that the very diversification has changed the American cultural landscape so that it is no longer American. I don't see the erosion of national identity. If anything it's becoming more diversified. The creation of Spanish version of television, and MTV's channel Tres highlights this diversification.

Whether we as individuals are willing participants is a hard question to answer simply because we do not control the programming of television or radio. They are decided for us and we can only choose whether or not to participate in the culture by engaging it.



Sources

1) http://library.thinkquest.org/11046/
“90 miles off the coast of America”
This page and graphics copyright 1997 ThinkQuest Team 11046

2) http://www.cubafoundation.org/CPF%20Travel-Ag%20Study/Release-Cuba-Travel-Ag-0302.04.htm
“2003 saw the end of the ban on American travel to Cuba”.
Cuba Policy Foundation Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Wed. February 5, 2003; Contact: Brian Alexander: 202-321-CUBA (2822)

3) http://www.new-agri.co.uk/00-5/countryp.html
“Estimated 85% drop in exports”
Major exports- “ Sugarcane, Tobacco, Citrus, Coffee beans, Salt and minerals”
Major Export Partners: Russia; Canada, Spain
Wren media

4) http://www.counterpunch.org/dangl03242004.html
“Internet access is restricted unless you have permission from the government.”

http://www.theinquirer.net/en/inquirer/news/2004/01/11/cubas-castro-censors-cameraphones

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/10/05/398939.aspx

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html#Comm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3386413.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3425425.stm

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2886.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Cuban_Americans#Actors