The U.S. embargo against Cuba is not the problem or cause of recent protests. Cubans want freedom. The latest rounds of protests are not solely about recent food shortages, inadequate medical supplies, or the country’s pandemic mismanagement. The protests are deep-rooted, following decades of many Cubans living on a few dollars per month with food quotas, barren grocery stores, and rolling blackouts. That is in addition to the communist government’s many documented human rights abuses and infringements on civil liberties. When young Cubans recently organized online, internet service went dark for hours.

In this episode, Sebastian Stone not only describes the current state of the protests, but also puts them into historical context. With a brief history of Cuba and the Castro-led revolution, listeners have context for the current issues plaguing Cubans. Unfortunately, history repeats itself. 

After assessing this history and the evolution of American foreign policy toward Cuba, Stone argues that the Cuban communist regime must first end its autocracy before the U.S. lifts its embargo. Otherwise the U.S. has little leverage to address human rights abuses. The Cuban people depend on the embargo for their future freedom and prosperity.

For more, check out Stone's article, An Embargo for Cuban Freedom.  For more about Sebastian Stone, head over to his portfolio site.   

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