Join the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and American University’s Center for Latin American and Latino Studies (CLALS) for a discussion on the contemporary state of Cuban society and politics:
On July 11, 2021, thousands of Cubans took to the streets in cities across the whole country. Their demands focused on a broad range of grievances that had long gone unaddressed, and many of these concerns were exacerbated by the recent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, food and medicine shortages, and high inflation following the end of the dual currency system. To some, the protests were a medium to express dissent for the Cuban government, given that Cuba had not experienced such levels of intense and widespread demonstrations since the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista’s dictatorship 62 years earlier. As an initial response, the government sought to suppress the protests, leading to the detention of numerous individuals among other developments. In its efforts to address the root concerns and alleviate the cause of these demonstrations, some initial reforms were implemented. Still, another set of demonstrations is scheduled for November 15, 2021.
Join WOLA for this installment of the American University’s CLALS virtual symposium The Road Ahead: Cuba After the July 11 Protests, with research edited and presented by William M. LeoGrande, John M. Kirk, and Philip Brenner, and published by CLALS. The speakers will briefly examine some of the potential causes of the July 11 protests, and discuss their significance for contemporary Cuban society and politics.
Event Details:
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. EST
Panelists:
Hope Bastian
Assistant Professor, Wheaton College
John M. Kirk
Emeritus Professor, Dalhousie University
William M. LeoGrande
Professor of Government, American University
Moderators:
Philip Brenner
Emeritus Professor, American University
Mariakarla Nodarse
Assistant Director for Cuba, WOLA
This event will be livestreamed on the WOLA YouTube page.