Informational Element of Power: The Role of Public Diplomacy in United States-Cuba Policy Implementation

Abstract

Abstract : THESIS: The United States should reassess its Public Diplomacy strategy toward Cuba and the key role that Public Diplomacy plays in preparing the Cuban people to transition to a free and democratic state. RATIONALE: The Castro Regime has a monopoly on all media and information in Cuba which permits the regime to control what the Cuban people see and believe about the outside world and indeed their own country. Therefore the people of Cuba are Castro's center of gravity and as such are the key force for transition and change to a free and democratic Cuba. The Informational Element of Power and Public Diplomacy are the premier tools the United States has to shape the message to the Cuban population. This tool is designed to provide objective and unbiased information to the Cuban population. As Castro ages and approaches the end of his regime the United States has a window of opportunity to educate the Cuban population. It is imperative that the United States maximize this window of opportunity. Public diplomacy has the responsibility to shape the informational battlespace and the mandate to address the misconceptions that the populous might have. The United States can not wait until Castro's departure to engage the Cuban people. The Unites States needs to change its current engagement strategy and directly engage the Cuban people now. APPROACH: After a brief history of United States-Cuban relations to include the current state of this relationship this strategy research paper evaluates the Informational Element of Power but most specifically the role of public diplomacy and Cuba. Next it looks at the current United State-Cuba situation through the Basic Five Ring Model developed by John A. Warden III. The paper then applies Warden's model to the Cuban public diplomacy message. Next the paper proposes a way ahead for the public diplomacy strategy toward Cuba.