STWR - Share The World's Resources

Dr Aqueil Ahmad ~ STWR Member

Introduction

A new social and economic order is fast emerging and seems to be engulfing the entire planet. It is characterized by strong global demographic, environmental, economic, political, cultural, scientific and technological (S&T) trends and interdependencies. Together, these trends constitute what has come to be popularly known as the phenomenon (or process) of globalization--as opposed to the counter-trend of localization which emphasizes heterogeneous development and cultural exclusiveness. The most pervasive aspects of globalization include the global economy, a global science and technology system, and a global culture. These will be briefly discussed in this essay using the theoretical frameworks provided by the modernization theory and the world system theory. Implications of these aspects of globalization for developing countries, particularly Cuba, will be highlighted.¹

There are several reasons for highlighting the case of Cuba in this study. Much of the western discourse on Cuba is ideological, focusing basically on the politics of communism in Cuba, Cuban-American, and Cuban-Soviet relations.² American media coverage on Cuba has been greatly influenced by the Cuban exiles in Miami and the anti-Communist, anti-Castro policies of the American government currently led by political figures like Senators Jesse Helms and Dan Burton, powerful figures in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.³ The following comments by a Cuban exile reflect the image of Cuba commonly held by an average American:

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment