JUSTICE AND REVOLUTION IN CUBA:
1868-PRESENT
A Unique College Experience - 11 Days – September 30 to October 10 - 2011
Kentucky Wesleyan College Criminal Justice, Criminology and Law program and the College of
Justice and Safety at Eastern Kentucky University will join in offering this course. Our focus will be
Criminal and Social Justice.
KWC Students will register as a regular course in:
CJ-4350 B Special Topics: Justice and Revolution in Cuba.
Eastern Kentucky University will offer this course as a Graduate level course and an undergraduate
course (CRJ- 8XX or CRJ 4XX)
Cost from Miami to Cuba and return will be approximately $2,000. This will include travel to
and from Miami, rooms, and most meals. Actual cost will be determined in a few days.
Background: Cuba is often perceived in starkly black and white terms; either as the site of one
of Latin America’s most successful revolutions or as the bastion of the world’s last communist
regime. And Cuba today is much more than cigars, classic automobiles, and Castro. This
remarkable nation has had a long history of relations with larger political powers that were drawn
to the island because of its valuable resources and strategic location. Events in this island nation
often command international attention and just as often inspire controversy. The tradition of
racism and violence, its black rebellions, the survival of its Indian peoples, and the lasting influence
of Spain is of unique importance. The 1959 Revolution, including Castro’s relationship with the
Soviet Union, military exploits in Africa, and his attempts to promote revolution in Latin America
and among American blacks are topics that must be examined with a broader historical context.
The Cuban War of Independence (1895-1898) was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba
fought against Spain, the other two being the Ten Years' War (1868-1878) and the Little War
(1879-1880). The final three months of the conflict escalated to become the Spanish-American
War. The Spanish-American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States and
ultimately ended with the Americans defeating the Spaniards. Although the main issue was Cuban
independence, the brief war was fought in both the Caribbean and the Pacific. The outcome was
the 1898 treaty of Paris, which was favorable to the U.S., followed by temporary American control
of Cuba and indefinite colonial authority over Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.
In this class, we will analyze the origins, development and the potential future of the Cuban
revolution. Beginning with a historical discussion of Cuban politics before Castro's takeover, we
will investigate the formation of the Cuban Communist Party and its relation to the trade unions
and the formidable Federation of Cuban Women; examine the Rectification Campaign, launched in
1986, which sought to improve the failing Cuban economy. Finally, we will look at how the Cuban
leadership is dealing with the gradual breakdown of socialism and the economic problems that
have arisen since the end of the Cold War and the effect on justice.