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Lessons from Cuba: Why Sanctions Don't Work

In addition to recognizing that a Cuba-esque policy won't work in Syria, Jacob Weisberg writes that it probably won’t work in Iran either. Weisberg is writing specifically about the futility of imposing sanctions on dictatorial regimes, but his argument begins with the same basic premise—namely, that a policy which has failed to effect change in Cuba for 46 years and counting probably isn’t a great policy.

By applying economic restraints, we label the most oppressive and dangerous governments in the world pariahs. We wash our hands of evil, declining to help despots finance their depredations, even at a cost to ourselves of some economic growth. We wincingly accept the collateral damage that falls on civilian populations in the nations we target. But as the above list of countries suggests, sanctions have one serious drawback. They don't work.

Nothing like an ailing Communist dictator over whom we have no influence whatsoever to remind us what constitutes productive diplomatic strategy.

Posted by on 08/03/06 at 11:13 AM | E-mail | Print | Digg | de.licio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Yahoo! MyWeb | StumbleUpon | Netscape | Google |



Comments

the enbargo against cuba did not help against the dictatorship. Do you have any other suggestion?
it is almost over.

Posted by: Dr.Q on 08/05/06 at 2:12 AM

The USA's lead embargo of Cuba has only worked to spread the notion that American Administrations for decades have failed to prove the argument that a Republican type of Government based on democratic values and Capitalism is preferable to Socialism and Communism, when it comes to the well-being of a Nation's Population.
The embargo has only been a symptom of the blind desire to spread propaganda conducive to elevate the US system of Government over other ways of governing a Nation, such as is the case of China for example, in order to dominate and exploit natural resources all over the World. Proxy Governments and dictatorships have been supported by the USA so as to generate profit for large industrial/commercial companies.
The US Government decided long ago to make an example of non aligned regimes by creating an evil and immoral blockade to Cuba.
The same type of tactical attitudes were used about Russia, China and other Governments like the freely and democratically elected Allende's Government in Chile.
The US Government enrolled some other Governments in the hemisphere and pressure the majority of the Latin American Governments to abide by the blockade.
History has actually proven that a country like Cuba under decades of economic and diplomatic relations disadvantage, has manage to maintain a good system of Education available to all classes, health care for all, and an unemployment rate which has been consistently around 2 to 3 percent. It is also factual that they have sound renewable energy practices and conservation and environmental sustainability policies that are exemplary in Latin America.
This is more than just an accomplishment considering what a formidable obstacle and disadvantage has been for the Island to be so isolated.
The embargo has also proven that if an Empire spends enough resources in media campaigns newsprint or otherwise, coerces their sister Nations to go along with its policies, it is very possible to create false fears in their electorates about alternative forms of Government. That sort of created inertia is also visible in the choices American Citizens have at election time in the US. __Do we really have a choice...?
The cat is out of the bag now and the World is starting to understand the issue in a different light.
Many of the other Nations in the free World have struggled to make a go for themselves and remain third world and undeveloped.
There aren't many examples in the Southern Hemisphere that I can mention which are better off than Cuba and its People.

Posted by: Olivia on 08/06/06 at 2:17 PM

this site dont work on my computer i have got bt broadband , this site works on other peoples computer

Posted by: mizan on 08/11/06 at 3:39 PM

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