Community Studies Center

Cuba Mini Mosaic

Image from Cuba

Dickinson previously sponsored two trips to Cuba. In 2003, Sinan Koont, professor of Economics, took the first student group to Cuba, focusing on the economic and political situation. In 2004, Professors Koont and Susan Rose (Sociology) designed the course as a Mosaic, which encouraged students to conduct oral history interviews during a three-week research trip to Cuba.

 At the beginning of the 21^st Century, Cuba, a small (however the biggest) island nation in the Caribbean, with a population of 11 million, is facing major challenges as it attempts to carry on and further develop its unique brand of  socialism. This course examined contemporary economic and social conditions and policies, international relations, and the ramifications of the Cuban revolution of 1959. With a focus on political, economic, environmental and social sustainability, special attention was given to urban agriculture as well as to social policy related to health, education, family, youth, gender and sexuality. In order to deepen our understanding of Cuba’s economy, society, and culture today, we integrated a spring-break study tour of Cuba.