Analysis

Fidel Castro’s controversial legacy

Castro, who led Cuba for nearly 50 years, died Friday. In 2006, he had transferred the presidency to his younger brother, Raul Castro, after a debilitating intestinal ailment. Fidel Castro’s vision and iron rule shaped every aspect of life in Cuba and its relations worldwide. Many, perhaps most, Cubans would say he held power too tightly and too long. He was Latin America’s most prominent 20th century leader, but his legacy remains to be defined.

Peter Hakim

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ Newsday

Did Fidel Destroy His Own Legacy?

No one can deny Fidel Castro his place in history. He was, by any measure, the most prominent political figure in Latin America in the 20th century, maybe since Christopher Columbus. The question is whether the narrative will be mostly about bold dreams and progressive change—or about oppression and stagnation in Cuba.

Peter Hakim

Articles & Op-Eds ˙

Video

Perspective from Cuba

The removal of Cuba from the list of states sponsoring terrorism has opened the way for the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Bruno Binetti

Event Summaries ˙

Por qué Fidel destruyó su propio legado

Nadie puede negar Fidel Castro su lugar en la historia. Era la figura política más importante en América Latina tal vez desde Cristóbal Colón en 1492. La pregunta es hasta qué punto su legado será el de unos sueños osados y unas transformaciones progresistas o por el contrario, un relato de opresión y de estancamiento para Cuba.

Peter Hakim

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ Infolatam

Legado poderia ter dado a Cuba outro destino

Ninguém pode negar a Fidel Castro o seu lugar na História. Ele foi a figura política mais proeminente da América Latina talvez desde Cristóvão Colombo, em 1492. A questão é até que ponto sua narrativa será mais sobre sonhos ousados e mudanças progressistas — ou sobre opressão e, no fim, estagnação em Cuba.

Peter Hakim

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ O Globo

Private Conversation with Cuba Posible

On Friday, March 3rd, the Dialogue welcomed Director and Deputy Director of Cuba Posible, Roberto Veiga and Lenier Gonzalez, and a small group of Latin America policy experts for a discussion on social and political trends in Cuba. The discussion focused on upcoming leadership dynamics in Cuba and the role of young people in the future of the island.

Danielle Edmonds

Event Summaries ˙

Raúl Castro (R) ceded the leadership of the Cuban Communist Party to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel (L) at the party’s recent congress.

Will the End of the Castro Era Mean Change in Cuba?

A Latin America Advisor Q&A featuring experts’ viewpoints on the end of the Castro era in Cuba and what it means for the country.

Lenier González, Camila Piñeiro Harnecker, Otto Reich, William LeoGrande, Ricardo Herrero, Sarah Coker

Latin America Advisor ˙

Art store in Havana, Cuba

La transición que no fue en Cuba

Lenier González escribe esta reseña sobre el libro del noruego Vegard Bye que intenta explicar por qué el Gobierno cubano paralizó en 2016 el proceso de reformas iniciado por Raúl Castro.

Lenier González

Book Review ˙ ˙ 14 y medio

The Trump Effect in Latin America

Over a year ago, as Donald Trump was on one of his tirades full of insults and falsehoods – to which most Americans have, sadly, now become accustomed – I asked an Argentine friend if he had ever heard such aggressive rhetoric from a president before. “Sure I have,” he responded, “but never in English.”

Michael Shifter

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ Ideele

Strongmen Have the Edge With Trump. Why Not Maduro?

Mr. Trump should be commended for coming down hard on Latin America’s strongmen. But by also resurrecting an impulse for unilateral action and indifference to the region’s needs and concerns, he is making it more difficult to help bring about the democratic change he ostensibly seeks.

Michael Shifter, David Toppelberg

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ The New York Times