Reagan and Cuba: an analysis of U.S. foreign policy in the 1980s

Wang, Wen (2022) Reagan and Cuba: an analysis of U.S. foreign policy in the 1980s. MRes thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Though U.S.-Cuba relations during Reagan years have been studied from various perspectives, scholars have not taken the Reagan’s approach to diplomacy and Cuba’s foreign policy into consideration, in addition to domestic politics and the global Cold War context. The primary aim of this thesis is to identify the major characteristic of Reagan’s Cuba policy and how they emerged. Address this issue improves understanding of U.S.-Cuba relations in the 1980s and the major dynamics in the politics of U.S. Cuba policy. To achieve this, this thesis reviews primary source and secondary source from mid-1950s to 1989 and discusses four main aspects of U.S. policy: an intensified blockade of Cuba, the immigration agreement of 1984, Radio Martí and public diplomacy, and covert actions. The concluding reasons highlighted here are legacies from the past that shaped Reagan’s Cold War diplomacy, realignment of domestic political forces and the rise of the Cuban-American community, changing international context, and Cuban foreign policy. The Cuban government’s foreign policy, in turn, was driven by its need for survival and also shaped Reagan’s Cuba policy. Cuba’s connection with USSR and its interventionist activities in Central America also contributed a lot to aggression from Reagan’s administration.

• Item Type: Thesis (MRes)
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Subjects: E History America > E151 United States (General); J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > History
• Supervisor's Name: Charbonneau, Dr. Oliver
• Date of Award: 2022
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2022-82846
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 04 May 2022 09:12
• Last Modified: 04 May 2022 09:12
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.82846
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/82846