Learning for the Cuban and Nigerian Revolution

2020 Words5 Pages

For developing regions, Latin America and Africa are a few of the focal countries to analyze civil war onset and for future preventions. Cuba, now a communist state underwent political turmoil from leaders like Fidel Castro to achieve its present government. Nigeria, a prominent oil powerhouse also faced ethnic conflict stemming from its diverse population. Both countries are still susceptible to future conflicts, but learning from their own history could easily prevent it from happening.
Cuba: The Castro Revolution
The Castro Revolution, which first started in the early 1950’s, involved a massive number of casualties at the cost of an insurgent victory. The Cuban President at that time, Fulgencio Batista was ousted and replaced with a revolutionary socialist state. Originally seizing power from a military coup, he lost popularity while serving his second term and was highly criticized for his dictatorial leadership resulting in organized crime, high unemployment rates, and a failing water infrastructure (Diaz-Briquets). Later, Fidel Castro listed grievances against Batista for his corruption and private police force. Failing to achieve a response they wanted, Castro organized disgruntled members of the working class to overthrow Batista’s regime. After a failed attempt and being imprisoned, the Castro brothers again tried to organize an overthrow once they were released.
Castro was able to find outside forces and support from Mexican exiles and even Che Guevera to back his revolution. Following multiple failed battles, Castro’s army was finally able to secure crucial offense points and Batista fled the country shifting power to the communist party. The ongoing conflict between the insurgents and Batista’s military regime resulte...

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...s as well as a multitude of human rights violations makes civil war and conflict a possibility in the near future. However, goals to have the United States lift its embargo and its current seat on the Human Rights Council could alter Cuba’s course and prevent history from repeating itself. In the case of Nigeria, conflicts stemmed from ethnic, religious, and differences in beliefs spurred wars in the region. Though the insurgents failed to alter government policies, it makes the potential for future conflict an even higher possibility. However, increasing its transparency in its oil companies, preventative diplomacy measures from outside countries, and addressing its human rights abuses could ease tensions in the culturally and ethnically diverse country. Taking necessary measures and altering policies in the two countries can prevent history from repeating itself.

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