COMMUNICATION DEBATE TOPIC
Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase its constructive engagement with Cuba.
 Current
U.S. Policy & Alternatives |
| Defining
Constructive Engagement |
Overview
CQ Researcher - Written in July 2007, this provides a great synopsis of Cuba's current place in the world and their relationship with the United States. The Pro/Con section asks if "the Cuban government is a threat to the U.S."
Cuba: A Global Studies Handbook ©2008 - Good overview of Cuban history and cultural. Look at the bibliography for other resources.
American Foreign Relations Since 1600 - This book is not an overview, but it has a bibliography that points to valuable books and articles about Cuba and the United States.
Cuba On-line - Based at the University of Miami, "a full-text, searchable database that contains current economic, demographic, political, historical and business information on Cuba."
Books - Search OPAL & OhioLINK. OPAL will include numerous government documents.
Here are the most relevent subject headings:
United States -- Foreign relations -- Cuba
United States -- relations -- Cuba
Cuba -- Foreign relations -- United States
If you want to run a search without the government documents, you can enter the following as a keyword search:
united states and foreign relations and cuba and not G P O
Articles - Relevant articles could be found in a number of databases. The following list may get you started.
Lexis-Nexis - primarily newspapers, although relevant court cases and jaw journals can also be found in this source.
International Political Science Abstracts - Policy issues as discussed in political science journals.
JSTOR - Older scholarly articles. It might be useful for early policy debates.
Academic Search Complete - general source for popular accounts, although some scholarly articles can be found here too.
World Development Indicators- Statistical data for over 600 development indicators and time series data from 1960. Data includes social, economic, financial, natural resources, and environmental indicators. NOTE - the data on Cuba seems relatively incomplete.
Government Sources
U.S. Department of State - Cuba page, but also search this site generally
U.S. Department of the Treasury - Cuba Sanctions
www.usa.gov - Search engine for U.S. government resources
Congressional -- from Lexis-Nexis, this will give you information on current bills, hearing testimony, etc. The federal government provides a similar service with Thomas.
Congressional Research Service Reports - provides high-quality research and analysis for members of Congress. The reports, studies, and issue briefs CRS staff create are succinct and well-researched and many are regularly updated. - Also, see Cuba: Issues for the 110th Congress prepared pecifically for Congress.
NGOs Non-government Organizations, such as charities and think tanks which are international in scope.
*NOTE - This is just a sampling of a dozen NGOs - other groups are also actively engaged in this discussion, such as the United Nations. Keep in mind that NGOs can and do provide valuable information, but that they usually present it from a particular perspective. Look at their mission statements and articles about these organizations. Also, sites like GuideStar (registration required), CharityNavigator, and Give.org Charity reports.
USA*Engage- Recently published a top ten list why the US should change it's policy towards Cuba. Interested in business and opening trade.
Inter-American Dialog - This group looks to include Latin American and Cuban voices in a dialog about US policy
Cuban American National Foundation - Previously supported US policies and is strongly opposed to the current Cuban regime.
Lexington Institute - "to inform, educate, and shape the public debate of national priorities in those areas that are of surpassing importance to the future success of democracy, such as national security, education reform, tax reform, immigration and federal policy concerning science and technology."
US Cuba Democracy Pac - Political Action Committee generally supportive of current policies and the embargo.
CubaSource - Produced by the Canadian Foundation for the Americas this web portal looks at information on Cuba's international relations.
Center for International Policy's Cuba Program - "The CIP Cuba program opposes the current containment policy towards Cuba and seeks a policy that will be productive in terms of real US interests and objectives."
Council on Foreign Relations - The CFR hosts a Cuba and U.S.-Cuba Relations Roundtable in Washington, D.C.
Latin America Working Group - Organization that looks to overhaul US policy towards Cuba.
Cuba Study Group - "Our mission is to facilitate peaceful change in Cuba leading to democracy, a free and open society, respect for human rights and the rule of law, a market-based economy, and the reunification of the Cuban nation."
Center for Free Cuba - Exile organization that promotes human rights and democracy for Cuba.
Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) - to "encourages U.S. policy-makers to move towards normalized relations with Cuba."
DEFINING CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT
*NOTE - The choice of this phrase refers to a policy developed by Chester Crocker, Assistant Secretary of State, during the Reagan administration to address the apartheid regime in South Africa
The Encyclopedia of the Cold War - provides a quick definition
Foreign Policy Roles of the President and Congress - 1999 article from the state department describes the interaction between the two branches using constructive engagment as an example.
Articles - JSTOR and International Political Science Abstractsare particularly relevant.
Books - Constructive engagement? : Chester Crocker & American policy in South Africa, Namibia & Angola, 1981-8 - On Order, but currently available through OhioLINK
Revised 9/2008
Created by Allen Reichert