Discussing Strategies to Mitigate Effects of the US Embargo: Q&A with Llanisca Lugo
Interview With Llanisca Lugo: Dissecting the Transgenerational Impact of Imperialist Blockades
In a candid conversation, Llanisca Lugo, International Solidarity Coordinator at the Martin Luther King Center in Havana, delves into the lasting influence of the Monroe Doctrine and its historical connection to present-day economic sanctions.
Let's talk about the Monroe Doctrine and its historical roots.
It's imperative to delve into the historical foundations of imperialist policies at play in Cuba, Venezuela, and the wider region. While the Monroe Doctrine [1823] has served as the cornerstone of the US' ambition to control the continent, its modern-day interpretations have aimed to maximize profits with minimal effort.
Over the years, the US' methods of exerting influence have evolved and adapted. The dynamic power struggle between our revolutionary projects and the imperialist forces has shaped policy adjustments, but the underlying goal remains unchanged.
For instance, if we examine Cuba, we find that the imperialist approaches have mutated over time. Initially, the US sought to purchase Cuba from Spain. Following the nation's victory in the war of independence [1895-98], US intervention effectively led to Cuba's de facto recolonization despite nominal independence as a republic.
Then, shortly after the triumph of the Revolution [1959], the US embarked on a policy of communal punishment.
From this point, the formula is simple: when a people defy the US and the interests of capital, imperialism deploys draconian measures to discipline the society. Back in the 1950s, Havana's hotels, ferries, and businesses catered to the Miami bourgeoisie. In the aftermath of the Revolution, the blockade was set in place to punish the Cuban people. The blockade impede economic growth and breed political isolation.
A nation attempting to forge a socialist society amid a capitalist, neoliberal world order will, inevitably, face "sanctions" as a form of political and economic punishment. Yet when I refer to imperialism, I generally focus on the US, although imperialism is an amalgamation of economic, political, and cultural forces spearheaded by capital's financial logic.
Why have such punitive measures become a preferred tool in the imperialist arsenal?
The blockade fails to feature in the imperialist narrative. Why? The goal is to transfer responsibility for the problems occurring within a blockaded nation to the oppressive regime. By doing so, the regime's inefficiency and inability to govern become magnified, obscuring the actual culprits: the imperialist forces.
Of course, blockades never exist alone. In Cuba's case, overt violence was wielded against the Revolution, but now the blockade serves as the primary weapon in the imperialist arsenal. When managing this intricate situation, sustaining a political discourse about revolutionary construction proves challenging.
You've claimed that the blockade can, in certain circumstances, breed division between the revolutionary project and the people.
Our situation is complex because Cuba and Venezuela have embarked on socialist projects with the people at the helm. Both recognize the people as the agents of transformation, understanding that socialism is not achievable otherwise. However, when the people are saddled with prolonged scarcity, apathy and disconnect arise. This creates a gap between the people and the revolutionary project. Tension emerges between the requisite revolutionary power for change and the project itself.
Since the state, as a revolutionary power, must provide vital resources and meet social needs, it might divert focus from the strategic project, potentially leading to compromise and ideological drift. This delicate balancing act is crucial to prevent a disconnect between the project and the people.
The US' stated objective behind the blockades is regime change in these countries. Despite the embargo lasting over 60 years in Cuba and nearly a decade in Venezuela, both governments persist. So, why does the US continue to pursue this misguided policy?
The blockade is deeply intertwined with the US' domestic politics, particularly during election cycles. It remains a bipartisan strategy, endorsed by both the Democratic and Republican parties. In many ways, Trump's policies were the most aggressive, as they hindered our capacity to acquire vital medical supplies and severely damaged our economy.
While the blockade has failed to oust the governments, it has successfully created mild social dissatisfaction and political disengagement. Additionally, the blockade detaches younger generations from our revolutionary history—those who didn't directly experience the foundational shift occurring during the Revolution.
It's essential to acknowledge that a revolution is rarely fixed or homogeneous, and can be undone. Our revolution requires ongoing struggle and debate.
As you advocate for cultivating a revolutionary spirit among the youth, what additional measures do you propose beyond the ongoing debate you advocate for?
Dreams of a perfect, all-knowing individual don't exist. Collective wisdom and solutions emerge from the organized people. However, we should refrain from judging spaces that don't follow prescribed paths. An organization that tackles local problems through a soccer club, for example, should be applauded, as it emanates from a collective desire to challenge capitalism's logic.
In conclusion, we have to foster spaces that foster collective subjectivity, appeal to our history, and promote ongoing debate. It's crucial to remember that every organizational project, be it party, youth group, or commune, contributes to our emancipation if it brings us together as a collective subject.
During your recent visit to Venezuela, what thoughts did you have regarding the Bolivarian Process?
Each revolutionary process has its unique beauty. Our task is to help the Venezuelan people understand the enormous impact their process has had on Latin America and the Caribbean. The Bolivarian Process has had a profound impact on Cuba, especially the emphasis on continental emancipation.
One faltering step towards freeing ourselves from the yoke of capitalism is the creation of communes, as they foster a sense of community among equals. We can learn a lot from Venezuela's communes in terms of community organization, self-management, and autonomy. We are studying the Bolivarian Process and collaborating with communards to exchange ideas and experiences.
- The ongoing economic sanctions in Cuba, as well as in other countries within the region, are a modern-day interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, with the goal of maximizing profits with minimal effort.
- The blockade imposed on Cuba, shortly after the triumph of the Revolution in 1959, was a form of communal punishment designed to punish the Cuban people and impede economic growth, leading to political isolation.
- The blockade's purpose is often concealed by transferring responsibility for the problems within a blockaded nation to the oppressive regime, allowing the imperialist forces to go unnoticed as the actual culprits.
- In Cuba and Venezuela, the limitations caused by the blockade can lead to division between the revolutionary project and the people, as prolonged scarcity can breed apathy and disconnect.
- The US' continued pursuit of the blockade, despite its failure to oust the governments, can be attributed to its deep intertwining with the US' domestic politics, particularly during election cycles, and serves to create mild social dissatisfaction and political disengagement, especially among the younger generations who didn't directly experience the foundational shift of the Revolution.
