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The embargo may

Those statements and proposals neatly

Introduction

encapsulate the view of Cuba as seen from

be bad policy, but

the top of the American government, namely

it is hardly the

that of an errant nation without options or

In his address to the April 20­22, 2001,

main cause of

friends and with no prospect of salvation

Summit of the Americas in Quebec,

until it rejoins the Western club. The policy

President Bush championed the powerful

Cuban economic

idea that free trade leads to free people.1 That

implication is that the four-decades-old uni-

underperformance.

lateral U.S. embargo against Cuba is justified

echoed the theme he enunciated during the

and on target and that the Bush administra-

presidential campaign when he said: "I view

tion will continue or even tighten it. Amb.

free trade as an important ally in what

Craig Johnstone, the U.S. Chamber of

Ronald Reagan called `a forward strategy for

Commerce's senior vice president for inter-

freedom.' The case for trade is not just mon-

national, economic and national security

etary, but moral. Economic freedom creates

affairs, has bluntly expressed the frustration

habits of liberty. And habits of liberty create

expectations of democracy."2 In the case of

felt by an increasing number of Americans:

"Unilateral sanctions are the result of failed

China, the administration acts on this princi-

foreign policy--the last resort of politicians

ple. Advocating the renewal of permanent

who have given up trying to actually do

normal trade relations with China, Bush

something about a problem and are looking

argued that "open trade is a force for freedom

only to posture."7

in China, a force for stability in Asia and a

force for prosperity in the United States."3

Policies based on illusion and posturing are

not, of course, confined to the American side

In the case of Cuba, however, the Bush

of the equation. The 1991 fall of the Soviet

administration--like those before it--shies

Union presented Cuba with an unparalleled

away from putting this sensible philosophy

opportunity to cast off the shackles of the

into action. Instead of trade aimed at foster-

command economy. Cuba's refusal to take

ing the much-needed process of political and

that opportunity and its persistent mainte-

economic reform, Cuba encounters isolation

nance of so many of communism's most

and sanctions. At a ceremony on May 18 to

debilitating structures lend a hollow quality to

mark Cuban independence day, Bush reiter-

Cuban outrage against the embargo. The

ated his opposition to any relaxation in sanc-

embargo may be bad policy, but it is hardly the

tions and his support for a bill before the

main cause of Cuban economic underperfor-

Senate to provide $100 million to the Cuban

opposition.4 The Summit of the Americas

mance. Indeed, as discussed below, the com

-

mon wisdom in the Havana diplomatic com

-

gave Bush the opportunity to draw attention

munity is that the embargo suits the Cuban

to Cuba's absence, stating that "only demo-

political leadership just fine because it deflects

cratic nations can attend the Summit of the

attention from the self-inflicted inanities of

Americas, and every nation in our hemi-

sphere except one will be there."5 The impli-

socialist mismanagement.

Although this paper takes issue with

cation that Cuba is an isolated entity echoed

aspects of current U.S. policy, its starting

the earlier statement of Secretary of State

premise is that structural reform in Cuba is

Colin Powell at his Senate confirmation

long overdue and that the United States has a

hearing on January 17, 2001. When referring

legitimate interest in encouraging the emer-

to the "sweeping power of democracy" in the

gence of Cuba as a democratic, market-based

Western Hemisphere as represented by the

society. Our conclusion is that the current

election of Mexican president Vicente Fox,

regime of isolation and economic sanctions is

Powell cited the exception of "Castro's Cuba

not the best way to promote those desirable

[that] remains behind, destined to remain

changes.8 We prefer a policy of engagement.

behind, trapped in the '50s until they see the

error of their ways."6

To support this view, we take advantage of

2