Abstract
When Fidel Castro maneuvered himself into power in 1959, he unleashed a revolutionary process that radically transformed Cuban society. Cuba's economy, dominated by sugar production for almost two centuries, was destroyed to promote economic development through industrialization. The failure of this ill-conceived development strategy and the destruction of the private sector plunged the island into econmic chaos. Totalitarian repressive tactics and the failed economy provoked a massive exodus, which created a diaspora of more than two million Cubans. The revolution also marked a change in Cuba's foreign relations. US hegemony ended with Cuba's entrance into the USSR's sphere of influence. The United States–Cuban confrontation culminated with the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and the 1962 Missile Crisis. Cuba's attempt to follow an independent course was halted by its economic dependence of Soviet aid. Castro capitulated to USSR hegemony in 1968 by supporting its invasion of Czechoslovakia. In teh 1970s, Cuba's economy and international military adventurism were subsidized by Soviet aid. The fall of the USSR strengthened the impact of the US embargo,k forcing the leadership to adopt some capitalist strategies in order to remain in power. Since the 1990s Cuba has faced increasing criticism for its human rights violations.
Published Version
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