CUBA-US RELATIONS Montreal: Greetings from Mara Bilbao Díaz, Consul General of the Republic of Cuba in Montreal

Posted on by

Greetings from Mara Bilbao Díaz, Consul General of the Republic of Cuba in Montreal on the occasion of the October 11 book launch of CUBA–U.S. Relations at the Library Paragraphe Librairie.

Mara Bilbao Díaz

Thank you, Arnold, for affording us the opportunity to meet with you today and to talk a little about Cuba–U.S. relations, which are difficult and always fraught with problems between a small island and the most powerful country in the world.

We appreciate Arnold August’s support in defending the Cuban Revolution for over 20 years and his gallant donation of the royalties from his book launchings in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto for the relief of victims of Hurricane Irma in Cuba.

This book is published at a time of uncertainty and decline in relations between Cuba and the United States. It serves as an important guide to readers for a better understanding of the history of the relations between the two countries.

Happily, there are many institutions in the United States that do not share the actions of the current U.S. government but rather think that Cuba and the United States have much to gain from better relations. Cuba will once again present a resolution to the United Nations on November 1, denouncing the economic and commercial blockade imposed for almost 60 years against Cuba by the United States. This initiative is similar to the one that has received strong support from the United Nations since 1992.

The blockade is stronger now than ever, causing hardship to all Cubans living on the island. The blockade affects every one of the nation’s sectors of development: agriculture, health, education and sports. It is not simply a bilateral issue between two countries. The extraterritorial nature of the blockade remains very serious.

Measures recently announced by the U.S. government, which are not based on any conclusive results of research or proof of the alleged incidents, are highly political in nature and benefit only a minority whose aim is to scuttle relations between the two countries.

Cuba’s desire is to continue negotiating with the United States on an equal footing and with absolute respect for the sovereignty and independence of our country and to pursue respectful dialogue and cooperation on areas of mutual interest.

Message de salutations de Mara Bilbao Díaz, Consule Générale de la République de Cuba à Montréal

Posted on by

À l’occasion du lancement de livre CUBA–U.S. RELATIONS à la Librairie Paragraphe le 11 octobre, 2017

Mara Bilbao Díaz

Merci  Arnold de nous avoir donné l’occasion de nous rencontrer aujourd’hui, et de pouvoir parler un peu sur les relations entre Cuba et les États-Unis, une relation difficile et toujours pleine de difficultés entre une petite île et le pays le plus puissant du monde.

Nous apprecions le soutient d’Arnold August pendant plus de vingt ans à la défense de la Révolution cubaine, et son beau geste de faire don des bénéfices obtenus, des présentations du livre à Ottawa, à Montréal et à Toronto, aux victimes de l’ouragan Irma à Cuba.

Ce livre apparaît dans une étape d’incertitude et de régression dans les relations entre Cuba et les États-Unis. Pour cette raison, la lecture de ce livre guide au lecteur pour une meilleure compréhension de l’histoire de la relation entre les deux pays.

Heureusement, il existe de nombreuses institutions aux États-Unis qui ne partagent pas l’action du gouvernement américain actuel, et qui pensent que Cuba et les États-Unis ont beaucoup à gagner avec une meilleure relation. Cuba présentera encore une fois auprès des Nations Unies, le 1er novembre, une résolution visant à dénoncer le blocus économique et commercial imposé par les États-Unis depuis près de 60 (soixante ans) contre Cuba. Une initiative similaire à celle reçue par l’ONU depuis 1992 (mille nef cent quatre-vingt – douze) avec un fort soutien.

Le blocus continue à être, aujourd’hui, plus fort que jamais, causant des dommages à tous les cubaines et cubains qu’habitons dans l’île. Le blocus affecte tous les secteurs du développement de la nation:  l’agriculture, la santé, l’éducation, le sport et il ne s’agit pas d’une question bilatérale entre deux pays, la nature extraterritoriale du blocus reste très vigoreuse.

Les mesures récemment annoncées par le gouvernement des États-Unis, sans résultats de recherche concluants et aucune preuve des incidents allégués, ont un caractère éminemment politique, et elles ne bénéficient qu’à une minorité cherchant à faire échouer les relations entre les deux pays.

La volonté de Cuba c’est de continuer à négocier avec les États-Unis, sur la base de l’égalité et du respect absolu pour la souveraineté et l’indépendance de notre pays et de poursuivre le dialogue respectueux et la coopération sur des sujets d’intérêts communs.

New! Venezuela and Cuba. Toronto.

Posted on by

Everyone welcome. Toronto, October 13.

Miguel Díaz-Canel, first vice president of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers gave a speech during the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Che and his compañero. He said:

“Political interests in the sister Republic of Venezuela are attempting to prevent Venezuelans from freely exercising their right to self-determination, with the United States applying unjust sanctions. However, faithful to our internationalist vocation, we once again reaffirm Cuba’s support for the Bolivarian and Chavista people and the government led by Nicolás Maduro.”

At the Toronto book launch of CUBA–U.S. RELATIONS, Arnold August will deal (among others) with this issue of Venezuela in the context of the analysis in his book: The Obama Cuba policy is part of the new American offensive to regain control over Latin America, including both Venezuela and Cuba, using the “carrot” for Cuba (now with the Trump trademark) and “stick” (Venezuela) policy. However, this does not work as Miguel Díaz-Canel just confirmed.

We are honoured with the presence of the Consul General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Toronto, Luis Acuña Cedeño, who will have a message of greetings and be available in the question and answer period.

Full information here:

A Different Booklist FaceBook:

http://bit.ly/2kvGRti

Web site:

https://cubausrelations.com/Blog/cubausrelations-arnoldaugust-toronto/

CUBA-ÉU “On ne peut pas faire confiance à l’impérialisme, ne serait-ce qu’un petit peu.”

Posted on by

Nouveau!

Le 8 octobre pendant la cérémonie du 50e anniversaire de la chute en combat du Che, Miguel Díaz-Canel, premier vice-président du Conseil d’État et du Conseil des ministres a prononcé le discours central. (IMPORTANT! Presqu’à 100% sûr qu’il sera le prochaine Président, Février 2018)

Photo : Juvenal Balán

Fidèles à son héritage et à Fidel, nous réaffirmons que Cuba ne fera aucune concession concernant sa souveraineté et son indépendance et ne négociera pas ses principes et n’acceptera pas non plus de conditions, car c’est le peuple cubain qui décide des changements, a-t-il déclaré.

Pour souligner sa pensée, Miguel Díaz-Canel a cité Che :

“On ne peut pas faire confiance à l’impérialisme, ne serait-ce qu’un petit peu”.

Cette citation a déjà fait le tour du monde. Les médias internationaux et les dissidents ne l’ont pas pris.

Il y’auras sans doute de la discussion sur ce point ce mercredi 11 octobre.  Moi je suis prêt, et nous avons l’honneur d’avoir avec nous Mara Bilbao Diáz, Consul Général de la République de Cuba à Montréal pour répondre aux questions.

Toutes les informations pour le lancement le 11 octobre:

https://www.facebook.com/events/157775124776584/

New! Cuba-U.S. Relations Toronto Book Launch: “‘Never trust imperialism – not one iota.’”

Posted on by

On July 8, Miguel Díaz-Canel, first vice president of the Cuba  Councils of State and Ministers, gave a speech during the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Che.

He said that Cuba will not make concessions inherent to its sovereignty and independence and will not negotiate its principles. To emphasise his point, Miguel Díaz-Canel quoted the immortal statement by Che:

“‘Never trust imperialism – not one iota.’”

You are probably looking at the next President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers.

Photo: Juvenal Balán

Everyone is welcome to the Friday October 13 Toronto book launch of CUBA–U.S. RELATIONS. Among other issues, discuss this juncture in the Cuban political system and its effects on Cuba–U.S. relations. In addition to the panelists, the Consul General of the Republic of Cuba in Toronto Tania López Larroque can respond to any questions.

Full info here:

The Different Booklist event page

http://bit.ly/2kvGRti

Web site:

https://cubausrelations.com/Blog/cubausrelations-arnoldaugust-toronto/

Julio Fonseca York University: One of Panelists for Toronto Book Launch of Cuba-U.S. Relations

Posted on by

All are invited to the Toronto launch of Arnold August’s latest book, Cuba–U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond.

The evening will feature a panel discussion with Arnold August, Keith Ellis, Julio Fonseca, and moderated by Elizabeth Hill (CCFA, Toronto).

Friday, October 13 at 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

A Different Booklist

777-779 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 0B7

Bathurst Station Eastbound Platform

Sponsored by Fernwood Publishing and A Different Booklist

Julio Fonseca. M.A. Applied and Theoretical Linguistics. Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics York University, Toronto Course Director, Spanish and Portuguese Section, D.L.L.L., Spanish Business Communication and Culture, Schulich School of Business, York University.

Further information: FaceBook-

https://www.facebook.com/events/110955159576979/?acontext={%22ref%22:%22106%22,%22action_history%22:%22null%22}

And web site-

https://cubausrelations.com/Blog/cuba-montreal-author-arnold-august-book-launch/

KEITH ELLIS ON PANEL FOR TORONTO BOOK LAUNCH of Cuba-US Relations

Posted on by

All are invited to the Toronto launch of Arnold August’s latest book, Cuba–U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond.

The evening will feature a panel discussion with Arnold August, Keith Ellis, Julio Fonseca, and moderated by Elizabeth Hill (CCFA, Toronto).

Friday, October 13 at 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

A Different Booklist

777-779 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 0B7

Bathurst Station Eastbound Platform

Sponsored by Fernwood Publishing and A Different Booklist

Keith Ellis. Born in Jamaica. Professor Emeritus, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Toronto, and Professor of Merit. Doctor honoris causa from the University of Havana and the Order of Distinction from the government of Jamaica. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Author of the Foreword to Cuba–U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond.

“Arnold August brings to the task his finest gift, his superbly developed talent as a journalist, understanding this to mean the habit of assessing different aspects and representations of reality, so that he offers an ultimate fairness to the reasonable and humane reader. August constantly exhibits a related attribute: his remarkable power of analysis. The two together make the experience of reading him an enlightening one.”

— Keith Ellis

Further information: FaceBook-

https://www.facebook.com/events/110955159576979/?acontext={%22ref%22:%22106%22,%22action_history%22:%22null%22}

And web site-

https://cubausrelations.com/Blog/cuba-montreal-author-arnold-august-book-launch/

Toronto launch of Arnold August’s latest book, Cuba–U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond

Posted on by

Trump’s Cuba Policy

NEW on Cuba-U.S. Relations! On September 29, the US decided to withdraw 27 people from its Embassy in Havana leaving only a skeleton staff. (It was re-opened in the summer of 2015 a result of the accord reached by Presidents Raúl Castro and Barack Obama on December 17, 2014.) On October 3 at 9 AM the U.S. State Department phoned the Cuban Ambassador to Washington informing him that 15 Cuba diplomats must leave the US within seven days. On the same day, at 3 PM, the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez held a Press Conference in Havana. He once again rejected the false accusation of “sonic” attacks against US diplomats. They are being used as a pretext for the hasty U.S. actions.

 

What is happening? What are the facts?

 

This will be the main theme of his Panel presentation contextualized in the book’s analysis of Trump’s Cuba policy. Listen to and discuss with author and Cuba expert Arnold August as he launches his third book on Cuba in Toronto.

We have a very prestigious panel consisting of KEITH ELLIS and JULIO FONSECA. Do not miss their presentations!

The evening will feature a panel discussion with author Arnold August,

Keith Ellis,

and Julio Fonseca,

and moderated by Elizabeth Hill (CCFA, Toronto).

Friday, October 13 at 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

A Different Booklist

777-779 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 0B7

Bathurst Station Eastbound Platform

Sponsored by Fernwood Publishing and A Different BookList

Keith Ellis. Born in Jamaica. Professor Emeritus, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Toronto, and Professor of Merit. Doctor honoris causa from the University of Havana and the Order of Distinction from the government of Jamaica. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Author of the Foreword to Cuba–U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond.

Julio Fonseca. M.A. Applied and Theoretical Linguistics. Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics York University, Toronto Course Director, Spanish and Portuguese Section, D.L.L.L., Spanish Business Communication and Culture, Schulich School of Business, York University.

Greetings from the Consul General of the Republic of Cuba in Toronto, Tania López Larroque.

Greetings from the Consul General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Toronto, Luis Acuña Cedeño: “Views on Venezuela in the Book and the Current Situation.”

All author’s royalties from the sale of the book at this event will be donated to the CNC’s Hurricane Irma Relief & Reconstruction for Cuba Campaign. 

About the book:

Against the background of the history of Cuba–U.S. interconnectedness and in light of Obama’s ini­tiative and Trump’s election, Arnold August deals with the relationship between the two countries, delving into past and current U.S. aggression against Cuba’s artistic field, ideology and politics. Based on twenty years of fieldwork in and investigation of Cuba, this book provides a unique perspective on the island’s diverse approaches to the cultural war being waged by the U.S. and illustrates the heterogeneous nature of Cuban society.

EXTRACTS FROM SOME PRAISE AND THE FOREWORD AS PUBLISHED IN THE BOOK:

“Arnold August brings to the task his finest gift, his superbly developed talent as a journalist, understanding this to mean the habit of assessing different aspects and representations of reality, so that he offers an ultimate fairness to the reasonable and humane reader. August constantly exhibits a related attribute: his remarkable power of analysis. The two together make the experience of reading him an enlightening one.”

— Keith Ellis

“This book could not have been more timely. With Fidel Castro’s death focusing outside attention on Cuba’s future and with Trump’s election throwing U.S.–Cuban “normalization” into question, Arnold August contests the common assumptions and public rhetoric about Cuban politics and about that ‘normalization.’”

— Antoni Kapcia, University of Nottingham

“August provides the reader with a bridge across time and nations to understand the changes that have led to the “normalization” of Cuba–U.S. relations and serves as a guide to the Trump future.”
— Helen Yaffe, London School of Economics

“Here at last for English-speaking readers is a full overview of U.S. relations with Cuba from Cuban points of view. The book is essential background for understanding whatever President Trump has in store.”
— Cliff DuRand, Morgan State University

Endorsed by:

Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC)

Canadian-Cuba Friendship Association CCFA, Toronto

Asociación de Cubanos en Toronto “Juan Gualberto Gómez”

The Hugo Chávez People’s Defense Front

The Worker to Worker Canada–Cuba Solidarity Network

https://www.facebook.com/events/110955159576979/?acontext={%22ref%22:%22106%22,%22action_history%22:%22null%22}

Montreal Book Launch and Discussion: Cuba-U.S. Relations

Posted on by

Join us as we launch CUBA-U.S. RELATIONS:

OBAMA AND BEYOND by Arnold August

Trump and Cuba

NOUVEAU sur les relations Cuba/États-Unis. Le 29 septembre, les États-Unis ont décidé de retirer 27 personnes de son ambassade à La Havane en laissant une équipe de squelette. (Il a été rouvert à l’été 2015 à la suite de l’accord obtenu par les présidents Raúl Castro et Barack Obama le 17 décembre 2014.) Le 3 octobre, à 9 heures, le Département d’état étatsunien a téléphoné à l’ambassadeur cubain à Washington pour l’informer que 15 diplomates de Cuba doivent quitter les États-Unis dans les sept jours. Le même jour, à 15 heures, le ministre cubain des Affaires étrangères, Bruno Rodríguez, a tenu une conférence de presse à La Havane. Il a de nouveau rejeté la fausse accusation d’attaques « sonores» contre les diplomates étatsuniens.

 

Qu’est-ce qui se passe? Quels sont les faits?

 

Ce sera le thème principal de la présentation de Arnold August contextualisée dans l’analyse du livre sur la politique de Trump envers Cuba. Écoutez et discutez avec l’auteur Montréalais et l’expert sur Cuba alors qu’il lance son troisième livre sur Cuba dans sa ville natale.

 

NEW on Cuba-U.S. Relations! On September 29, the US decided to withdraw 27 people from its Embassy in Havana leaving only a skeleton staff. (It was re-opened in the summer of 2015 a result of the accord reached by Presidents Raúl Castro and Barack Obama on December 17, 2014.) On October 3 at 9 AM the U.S. State Department phoned the Cuban Ambassador to Washington informing him that 15 Cuba diplomats must leave the US within seven days. On the same day, at 3 PM, the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez held a Press Conference in Havana. He once again strongly rejected the false accusation of “sonic” attacks against US diplomats.

 

What is happening? What are the facts?

 

This will be the main theme of his presentation contextualized in the book’s analysis of Trump’s Cuba policy. Listen to and discuss with Montreal author and Cuba expert Arnold August as he launches his third book on Cuba in his home town.

Montreal author Arnold August.

Refreshments will be served.

Admission is free.

Venez au lancement du livre CUBA-U.S. RELATIONS:

OBAMA AND BEYOND

Trump et Cuba

par l’auteur Montréalais Arnold August.

Des boissons seront servies.

Entrée libre.

Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore / Fernwood Publishing

Wednesday/Mercredi October 11

6 PM to 7:30 PM

Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore

2220 McGill College Avenue

Montreal H3A 3P9

All author’s royalties from the sale of the book at this event will be donated to the Cuba Irma Recovery fund.

Toutes les redevances de l’auteur provenant de la vente du livre à cet événement seront versées au fonds de récupération de Irma Cuba.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Arnold August has an M.A. in political science from McGill University, Montreal, where he resides. An accomplished journalist, he contributes articles in English and Spanish to websites in the United States, Canada, Cuba, Latin America and Europe. Since 1997, he has spent extended periods in Cuba pursuing his intensive investigations.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Against the background of the history of Cuba–U.S. interconnectedness and in light of Obama’s initiative and Trump’s election, Arnold August deals with the relationship between the two countries, delving into past and current U.S. aggression against Cuba’s artistic field, ideology and politics. Based on twenty years of fieldwork in and investigation of Cuba, this book provides a unique perspective on the island’s diverse approaches to the cultural war being waged by the U.S. and illustrates the heterogeneous nature of Cuban society.

A PROPOS DE L’AUTEUR:

Titulaire d’une maîtrise en science politique de l’Université McGill, Arnold August réside à Montréal. Journaliste accompli, ses articles ont paru en anglais, en espagnol et certains en français sur des sites web aux États-Unis, au Canada, à Cuba, en Amérique latine et en Europe. Ses recherches l’ont conduit à effectuer de longs séjours à Cuba depuis 1997.

À PROPOS DU LIVRE:

Dans le contexte de l’histoire tissée entre Cuba et les États-Unis et à la lumière de l’initiative prise par Obama ainsi que de l’élection de Trump, Arnold August traite des relations entre les deux pays, fouillant le passé et analysant l’agression en cours des États-Unis contre les arts, l’idéologie et le système politique cubains. Ce livre, fondé sur un travail de terrain et des recherches menés depuis vingt ans, offre une perspective unique sur les diverses formes que revêt la guerre culturelle menée par les États-Unis et illustre la nature hétérogène de la société cubaine.

Book Foreword by Dr. Keith Ellis.

Book Introduction by Ricardo Alarcón.

Message de salutations de Mara Bilbao Diáz, Consule Général de la République de Cuba, Montréal.

Greetings from Mara Bilbao Diáz, Consul Genaral de la République de Cuba, Montréal.

Message de salutations de Nidia Fajardo, Consule générale de la République bolivarienne du Venezuela à Montréal:  “Remarks on the Analysis of Venezuela Presented in the Book.”

Greetings from Nidia Fajardo, Consul General of the Bolivarian  Republic  of Venezuela in Montreal /

The publication features interviews with Cuban-based U.S.–Cuba experts Jesús Arboleya Cervera, Esteban Morales Domínguez, Elier Ramírez Cañedo, Iroel Sánchez Espinosa and Luis Toledo Sande.

SOME OF THE PRAISE AS PUBLISHED IN THE BOOK:

In his third book on Cuba Arnold August highlights the many roadblocks on the way to normalization. Unlike many mainstream cubanologists who are blind to imperial arrogance, he places the onus squarely on U.S. prejudices. Regime change remains the ultimate objective under a new disguise.  A cultural war has been targeting the younger generations. New Plattists [annexationists] are showing up. August’s deft analysis, firmly grounded in a prolonged exposure to Cuban history and debates while mapping out the possible future developments, makes for an enlightening book.

— Claude Morin, professor (retired) of Latin American history, Université de Montréal.

Any open-minded discussion about the asymmetrical Cuba–U.S. relations should start with this highly readable, informative book.

— James D. Cockcroft, three-time Fulbright Scholar

This book could not have been timelier. With Fidel Castro’s death focusing outside attention on Cuba’s future and with Trump’s election throwing U.S.–Cuban “normalization” into question, Arnold August contests the common assumptions and public rhetoric about Cuban politics and about that “normalization.”

— Antoni Kapcia, University of Nottingham

August provides the reader with a bridge across time and nations to understand the changes that have led to the “normalization” of Cuba–U.S. relations and serves as a guide to the Trump future.

— Helen Yaffe, London School of Economics

An expert on Cuba, Arnold August offers a revealing view of the conflict between Washington and Havana and the foreign policy of the United States vis-à-vis the island.

— Salim Lamrani, Sorbonne Paris IV University

Here at last for English-speaking readers is a full overview of U.S. relations with Cuba from Cuban points of view. The book is essential background for understanding whatever President Trump has in store.

— Cliff DuRand, Morgan State University

FaceBook Paragraph  Book Store Event Page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/157775124776584/

Toronto Book Launch CUBA-U.S. RELATIONS

Posted on by

All are invited to the Toronto launch of Arnold August’s latest book:

Cuba–U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond.

Trump and Cuba.

The evening will feature a panel discussion with Arnold August, Keith Ellis, Julio Fonseca, and moderated by Elizabeth Hill (CCFA, Toronto).

Friday, October 13 at 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

A Different Booklist

777-779 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 0B7

Bathurst Station Eastbound Platform

Sponsored by Fernwood Publishing and A Different BookList

Keith Ellis. Born in Jamaica. Professor Emeritus, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Toronto, and Professor of Merit. Doctor honoris causa from the University of Havana and the Order of Distinction from the government of Jamaica. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Author of the Foreword to Cuba–U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond.

Julio Fonseca. M.A. Applied and Theoretical Linguistics. Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics York University, Toronto Course Director, Spanish and Portuguese Section, D.L.L.L., Spanish Business Communication and Culture, Schulich School of Business, York University.

Greetings from the Consul General of the Republic of Cuba in Toronto, Tania López Larroque.

Greetings from the Consul General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Toronto, Luis Acuña Cedeño: “Views on Venezuela in the Book and the Current Situation.”

All author’s royalties from the sale of the book at this event will be donated to the CNC’s Hurricane Irma Relief & Reconstruction for Cuba Campaign. 

About the book:

Against the background of the history of Cuba–U.S. interconnectedness and in light of Obama’s ini­tiative and Trump’s election, Arnold August deals with the relationship between the two countries, delving into past and current U.S. aggression against Cuba’s artistic field, ideology and politics. Based on twenty years of fieldwork in and investigation of Cuba, this book provides a unique perspective on the island’s diverse approaches to the cultural war being waged by the U.S. and illustrates the heterogeneous nature of Cuban society.

EXTRACTS FROM SOME PRAISE AND THE FOREWORD AS PUBLISHED IN THE BOOK:

“Arnold August brings to the task his finest gift, his superbly developed talent as a journalist, understanding this to mean the habit of assessing different aspects and representations of reality, so that he offers an ultimate fairness to the reasonable and humane reader. August constantly exhibits a related attribute: his remarkable power of analysis. The two together make the experience of reading him an enlightening one.”

— Keith Ellis

“This book could not have been more timely. With Fidel Castro’s death focusing outside attention on Cuba’s future and with Trump’s election throwing U.S.–Cuban “normalization” into question, Arnold August contests the common assumptions and public rhetoric about Cuban politics and about that ‘normalization.’”

— Antoni Kapcia, University of Nottingham

“August provides the reader with a bridge across time and nations to understand the changes that have led to the “normalization” of Cuba–U.S. relations and serves as a guide to the Trump future.”
— Helen Yaffe, London School of Economics

“Here at last for English-speaking readers is a full overview of U.S. relations with Cuba from Cuban points of view. The book is essential background for understanding whatever President Trump has in store.”
— Cliff DuRand, Morgan State University

Endorsed by:

Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC)

Canada–Cuba Friendship Association CCFA, Toronto

Asociación de Cubanos en Toronto “Juan Gualberto Gómez”

The Hugo Chávez People’s Defense Front

The Worker to Worker Canada–Cuba Solidarity Network

https://www.facebook.com/events/110955159576979/?acontext={%22ref%22:%22106%22,%22action_history%22:%22null%22}