Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 2005
While our primary motivation for carrying out this study has been to explore the power of US stud... more While our primary motivation for carrying out this study has been to explore the power of US study abroad in Cuba for promoting a culture of peace, this work may have import beyond this specific setting for several reasons. First, participant evaluations designed to document transformative changes in the direction of cross-cultural deepening5 remain relatively rare in the study abroad field, despite clamor (e.g., Barber, 1983) from some international education circles to evaluate more systematically program outcomes (see Chieffo & Griffiths, 2004 for a review of the current status of this research). Even less common are studies that include groups from more than one sending institution and program, such as this study. This study is of further interest because it exclusively examines short term programs. In recent years, this program format has been rapidly increasing in prevalence (see Chin, 2003) but continues to provoke debate regarding program outcomes, particularly in relation t...
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 had a profound impact on Cuba's economy. As Cuba's main ... more The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 had a profound impact on Cuba's economy. As Cuba's main trading partner and patron (providing preferential terms for aid and above-market rates for Cuban products), the Soviet Union's abrupt dissolution led to severe shortages of basic goods, monetary aid, and fossil fuels in Cuba. The agriculture sector was especially hard hit. Without access to Soviet machinery or fertilizer and unable to trade freely on the international market because of the U.S. trade embargo, Cuba entered a period of extended economic crisis that resulted in food rationing and rising rates of malnutrition. Between 1989 and 1995, the average Cuban's daily food intake fell from 2,908 calories to 1,863 (FAS USDA 2008). Production at Cuba's large-scale farms ground to a halt, and the country desperately sought ways to ways to boost crop production to address its perilous food insecurity. Development Challenge The challenge for Cuba was to create a new, local agricultural system capable of providing fresh produce to ameliorate its dire food crisis.
S i n a n K o o n t Urban agriculture in Cuba Over the last fifteen years, Cuba has developed one... more S i n a n K o o n t Urban agriculture in Cuba Over the last fifteen years, Cuba has developed one of the most successful examples of urban agriculture in the world. Havana, the capital of Cuba, with a population of over two million people, has played a prominent, if not dominant role, in the evolution and revolution of this type of agriculture. The phrase "urban agriculture in Cuba" has a somewhat different meaning, simultaneously more and less restrictive than might appear at a first glance. It is more inclusive, as it allows for large expanses, urban fringes, and suburban lands. For example, the entire cultivated area of the Province of the City of Havana belongs to urban agriculture. This definition includes land that is much more rural than urban-some of the city's municipalities (or boroughs) in the eastern and southwestern parts of the city have relatively low population densities, around 2,300 to 3,500 people per square mile versus around 50,000 to 100,000 per square mile in the densely populated parts. As a result, more than 35,000 hectares (over 87,000 acres) of land are being used in urban agriculture in Havana! 1 The serious development of urban agriculture in Cuba began simultaneously with the disappearance of petrochemical inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides, from Cuban markets. Consequently, urban production uses only biological fertilizers and biological and cultural pest control techniques. The limited quantities of petrochemicals available are employed for a few non-urban crops such as sugar, potatoes, and tobacco. In Cuba, the distinction between organic and urban is hardly worth making, as almost all urban agriculture follows organic practices. The necessity for Cuba to turn to urban and organic agriculture in the early 1990s is both well known and understood. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the ending of trade with COMECON on rather favorable terms spelled the end of the Soviet-style, large-scale, industrial agriculture that Cuba had been practicing since at least the 1970s. Sinan Koont teaches economics and is coordinator of Latin American Studies at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and recently spent a sabbatical semester in Cuba studying urban agriculture.
With the 1965 economic reforms in the Soviet Union came changes in the system of material incenti... more With the 1965 economic reforms in the Soviet Union came changes in the system of material incentives. The major changes pertaining to the formation of the enterprise bonus fund, however, were not implemented until 1972.[1] The incentive alterations were sufficiently profound as to have spawned a sizeable analytical literature on the performance implications of the new system.
With the 1965 economic reforms in the Soviet Union came changes in the system of material incenti... more With the 1965 economic reforms in the Soviet Union came changes in the system of material incentives. The major changes pertaining to the formation of the enterprise bonus fund, however, were not implemented until 1972.[1] The incentive alterations were sufficiently profound as to have spawned a sizeable analytical literature on the performance implications of the new system.
The following article represents the impressions about Cuban life and Cuban economic and politica... more The following article represents the impressions about Cuban life and Cuban economic and political possibilities gained during a two month stay in February and March 1994. As this issue of MR is going to press coverage of U.S.-Cuban relations has returned to the front pages of newspapers. The long-standing U.S. policy of encouraging highly visible "illegal" defections while refusing to grant significant numbers of visas to legal immigrants has led to an increased illegal immigration flow. Although not unprecedented (the early 1960s Mariel boat-lift) and on a much smaller scale than before, this flow has created new difficulties in U.S.-Cuban relations. In the meantime, although the Clinton administration appears to have come down on the side of the hardline currents in the Cuban exile community, there is continuing evidence that the competition between the velvet glove and the iron fist approaches to destroying the current Cuban regime is proceeding; a debate between Pierre Salinger and Jose Mas Canosa on "Good Morning America" (ABC), recent public comments by elected officials (e.g. Rep. Lee Hamil-Sinan Koont teaches economics at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylavania.
Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 2005
While our primary motivation for carrying out this study has been to explore the power of US stud... more While our primary motivation for carrying out this study has been to explore the power of US study abroad in Cuba for promoting a culture of peace, this work may have import beyond this specific setting for several reasons. First, participant evaluations designed to document transformative changes in the direction of cross-cultural deepening5 remain relatively rare in the study abroad field, despite clamor (e.g., Barber, 1983) from some international education circles to evaluate more systematically program outcomes (see Chieffo & Griffiths, 2004 for a review of the current status of this research). Even less common are studies that include groups from more than one sending institution and program, such as this study. This study is of further interest because it exclusively examines short term programs. In recent years, this program format has been rapidly increasing in prevalence (see Chin, 2003) but continues to provoke debate regarding program outcomes, particularly in relation t...
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 had a profound impact on Cuba's economy. As Cuba's main ... more The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 had a profound impact on Cuba's economy. As Cuba's main trading partner and patron (providing preferential terms for aid and above-market rates for Cuban products), the Soviet Union's abrupt dissolution led to severe shortages of basic goods, monetary aid, and fossil fuels in Cuba. The agriculture sector was especially hard hit. Without access to Soviet machinery or fertilizer and unable to trade freely on the international market because of the U.S. trade embargo, Cuba entered a period of extended economic crisis that resulted in food rationing and rising rates of malnutrition. Between 1989 and 1995, the average Cuban's daily food intake fell from 2,908 calories to 1,863 (FAS USDA 2008). Production at Cuba's large-scale farms ground to a halt, and the country desperately sought ways to ways to boost crop production to address its perilous food insecurity. Development Challenge The challenge for Cuba was to create a new, local agricultural system capable of providing fresh produce to ameliorate its dire food crisis.
S i n a n K o o n t Urban agriculture in Cuba Over the last fifteen years, Cuba has developed one... more S i n a n K o o n t Urban agriculture in Cuba Over the last fifteen years, Cuba has developed one of the most successful examples of urban agriculture in the world. Havana, the capital of Cuba, with a population of over two million people, has played a prominent, if not dominant role, in the evolution and revolution of this type of agriculture. The phrase "urban agriculture in Cuba" has a somewhat different meaning, simultaneously more and less restrictive than might appear at a first glance. It is more inclusive, as it allows for large expanses, urban fringes, and suburban lands. For example, the entire cultivated area of the Province of the City of Havana belongs to urban agriculture. This definition includes land that is much more rural than urban-some of the city's municipalities (or boroughs) in the eastern and southwestern parts of the city have relatively low population densities, around 2,300 to 3,500 people per square mile versus around 50,000 to 100,000 per square mile in the densely populated parts. As a result, more than 35,000 hectares (over 87,000 acres) of land are being used in urban agriculture in Havana! 1 The serious development of urban agriculture in Cuba began simultaneously with the disappearance of petrochemical inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides, from Cuban markets. Consequently, urban production uses only biological fertilizers and biological and cultural pest control techniques. The limited quantities of petrochemicals available are employed for a few non-urban crops such as sugar, potatoes, and tobacco. In Cuba, the distinction between organic and urban is hardly worth making, as almost all urban agriculture follows organic practices. The necessity for Cuba to turn to urban and organic agriculture in the early 1990s is both well known and understood. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the ending of trade with COMECON on rather favorable terms spelled the end of the Soviet-style, large-scale, industrial agriculture that Cuba had been practicing since at least the 1970s. Sinan Koont teaches economics and is coordinator of Latin American Studies at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and recently spent a sabbatical semester in Cuba studying urban agriculture.
With the 1965 economic reforms in the Soviet Union came changes in the system of material incenti... more With the 1965 economic reforms in the Soviet Union came changes in the system of material incentives. The major changes pertaining to the formation of the enterprise bonus fund, however, were not implemented until 1972.[1] The incentive alterations were sufficiently profound as to have spawned a sizeable analytical literature on the performance implications of the new system.
With the 1965 economic reforms in the Soviet Union came changes in the system of material incenti... more With the 1965 economic reforms in the Soviet Union came changes in the system of material incentives. The major changes pertaining to the formation of the enterprise bonus fund, however, were not implemented until 1972.[1] The incentive alterations were sufficiently profound as to have spawned a sizeable analytical literature on the performance implications of the new system.
The following article represents the impressions about Cuban life and Cuban economic and politica... more The following article represents the impressions about Cuban life and Cuban economic and political possibilities gained during a two month stay in February and March 1994. As this issue of MR is going to press coverage of U.S.-Cuban relations has returned to the front pages of newspapers. The long-standing U.S. policy of encouraging highly visible "illegal" defections while refusing to grant significant numbers of visas to legal immigrants has led to an increased illegal immigration flow. Although not unprecedented (the early 1960s Mariel boat-lift) and on a much smaller scale than before, this flow has created new difficulties in U.S.-Cuban relations. In the meantime, although the Clinton administration appears to have come down on the side of the hardline currents in the Cuban exile community, there is continuing evidence that the competition between the velvet glove and the iron fist approaches to destroying the current Cuban regime is proceeding; a debate between Pierre Salinger and Jose Mas Canosa on "Good Morning America" (ABC), recent public comments by elected officials (e.g. Rep. Lee Hamil-Sinan Koont teaches economics at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylavania.
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