Culture, Economics, and Contemporary Politics in Cuba

Havana, Cuba

Examine how Cuba's status as both a developing country and a socialist state makes it unique among the family of nations. Learn how, through 50 years of conflict with the United States, the stepping down of Fidel Castro, and a transition to a largely capitalized economy, Cuba has managed to survive and hold claim to its identity.

Faculty Director

Clarence Lusane

Academic Details

The Program is considered a spring course and will consist of two pre-departure workshops at AU in the fall semester, a two-week intensive course in Cuba hosted at the University of Havana, which will include guest speakers and site visits, and three to four class meetings during the spring semester that will serve, in part, as platforms for student presentations on their own research.

Students in the Program will explore a variety of themes and issues related to Cuban culture, development, politics, and political economy, including:

• The Cuba Revolution, contemporary politics, and the struggle for socialism
  
• Healthcare and education in revolutionary Cube
  
• Art, hip hop, and jazz music in contemporary Cuban culture
  
• Cuban race politics
  
• Gender politics in Cuba
  
• Environment and development
  
• Cuban foreign policy
  
• Post-Soviet Cuban economy and tourism
  
• Religion in contemporary Cuba
  

Site Visits

Students on the Program will have the opportunity to visit a number of academic and non-academic site visits and field trips during the two-week trip. Excursions may include the cities of Trinidad and Playa Giron (where the Bay of Pigs invasion occurred), a Cuban newspaper office, studios of Cuban artists, Juan Marinello Cuban Institute of Cultural Investigation, National Library, Organization of Cuban Women, Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, and old Havana. Site visits are subject to change.

2012 Program Schedule (tentative)

Pre-Departure Workshop 1: November 14

Pre-Departure Workshop 2: December 14

All students arrive in Miami: Jan 1

Group departs for Havana: Jan 2

Group departs Havana: January 14

Group meetings: Spring semester 2012 (dates TBA)

Program Costs

AU tuition plus program fee (details in the program guide).

Who Should Attend

This multi-disciplinary program is designed for graduate students. Graduate students with interests in comparative political systems, development, foreign policy, economics, education, human rights, international communication, international politics, Latin American area studies, Cuba, US-Cuban relations are invited to apply. Advanced undergraduates who have completed at least 90 credits toward the completion of their degree, or are enrolled in the Honors program and have completed at least 75 credits, are also encouraged to apply.  

Logistics

Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Miami (tentative gateway city). 

Application and Deadlines

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis but must be received by October 12, 2011* for priority consideration. As part of the review process, the Faculty Director and/or the SIS Director of International Programs may invite students to meet with them to discuss the submitted application. Enrollment may be limited to approximately 10 students. Once admitted to the Program by SIS, students receive notification via e-mail. At that time, students will be required to submit a non-refundable deposit of $250 to SIS, through a check or money order made payable to American University, to secure their place in the Program.

*updated due date as of 09/27/11