Leiden University Student Repository

Perotti, Luka (2016)

Cubaanse Migratie: van de Cubaanse Revolutie tot de Cuban Raft Exodus - Een kritische blik op de Cubaanse migrant: vluchteling of gelukzoeker?

Bachelor thesis | Geschiedenis (BA)

A critical look at the migration of Cubans to the United States since the victory of the Cuban Revolution by Fidel Castro. Were these Cubans true refugees, fleeing a dangerous regime, or were they economic migrants, making use of Castro's bad reputation to leave Cuba for the United States and profit of its welfare. By looking at three main waves of migration from Cuba to the United States - the first wave after Castro's victory (1959-1962), the Mariel Boatlift (1980) and the Cuban Raft Exodus (1994) - the main goal is to find out whether the Cuban migrants were refugees or economic migrants. In this research the role of the United States (propaganda against Cuba) is also taken into consideration. The research shows an interesting outcome. Cuban migrants are mainly portrait as political migrants or refugees in most literature, but the research clearly shows that during two of the three waves of migration the motives of Cubans were rather economic, which doesn't fit with the image of...Show moreA critical look at the migration of Cubans to the United States since the victory of the Cuban Revolution by Fidel Castro. Were these Cubans true refugees, fleeing a dangerous regime, or were they economic migrants, making use of Castro's bad reputation to leave Cuba for the United States and profit of its welfare. By looking at three main waves of migration from Cuba to the United States - the first wave after Castro's victory (1959-1962), the Mariel Boatlift (1980) and the Cuban Raft Exodus (1994) - the main goal is to find out whether the Cuban migrants were refugees or economic migrants. In this research the role of the United States (propaganda against Cuba) is also taken into consideration. The research shows an interesting outcome. Cuban migrants are mainly portrait as political migrants or refugees in most literature, but the research clearly shows that during two of the three waves of migration the motives of Cubans were rather economic, which doesn't fit with the image of the Cuban migrant as refugee.Show less

Cuban Migration Refugees Economic Migrants Castro Cuba United States

Author

Perotti, Luka

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

History (Algemene Geschiedenis)

Supervisors

Meel, Peter

ECTS Credits

15

Language

nl