Beyond Perpetual Antagonism: Reimagining U.S.-Cuba Relations
11th Conference on Cuban and Cuban-American Studies

Place: Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami, Florida
Date: 23- 25 February 2017
CFP Deadline: 31 October 2016

The Cuban Research Institute (CRI) of Florida International University continues its tradition of convening scholars and other persons interested in the study of Cuba and Cuban Americans by announcing its 11th Conference. We encourage the submission of panels and papers concentrating on any aspects of the main conference theme, but will consider all submissions relevant to the history, economy, politics, culture, society, and creative expression of Cuba and its diaspora.

On March 1, 1975, then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger declared: “We see no virtue in perpetual antagonism between the United States and Cuba.” Nonetheless, Kissinger’s efforts to reengage with Cuba failed after Fidel Castro sent combat troops to Angola in April 1975. Thirty years passed until the two Cold War enemies restored diplomatic relations. Cuba’s close ties to the former Soviet Union, military interventions in Africa, and constant attempts to export its revolution made it difficult to maintain peaceful coexistence with the United States. In turn, the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba, in addition to numerous covert operations to subvert Castro’s socialist regime, buttressed a “siege mentality” on the Island for decades. Finally, on December 17, 2014 (D17), Barack Obama and Raúl Castro announced that they would take steps to “normalize” relations between the United States and Cuba. The two countries reopened embassies in their respective capitals on July 20, 2015.

The Eleventh Conference on Cuban and Cuban-American Studies takes Kissinger’s memorable expression, “perpetual antagonism,” as a cue for further academic inquiry and public debate. Our main theme, Beyond Perpetual Antagonism: Reimagining U.S.Cuba Relations, invites interdisciplinary approaches to the multiple, complex, and often conflicting links between the two countries, both historically and in current times. Although we welcome discussions about the recent situation and the future of U.S.-Cuba relations, we invite a thorough retrospective examination of the social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions of the intertwined histories of the two countries, at least since the late 18th century. We are especially interested in assessing the contribution of the Island’s diasporas in the United States to imagining Cuba Libre (“a free Cuba”) from the Spanish colonial period to this day.

Panels and papers could focus on but are not limited to the following topics:

• The causes and consequences of changes in U.S.-Cuba relations before and after D17
• The influence of Cuban affairs on U.S. domestic politics
• Pending issues in U.S.-Cuba relations, such as the U.S. embargo, compensation for confiscated properties, the Guantánamo Naval Base, the Cuban Adjustment Act, and human rights in Cuba
• Shifts in the public opinion of the Cuban-American community toward U.S.
  policy toward Cuba
• The impact of the Cuban-American community on the Cuban economy, especially through travel and family remittances
• The use of remittances for the development of small independent businesses (cuentapropismo) in Cuba
• Contemporary migration patterns from Cuba to the United States
• Transnational kinship ties between Cubans on and off the Island
• The history of the Cuban exodus to the United States, including the various exile communities in Key West, Tampa, New York City, and Miami
• The role of the United States in shaping Cuban national identity during the 19th century
• U.S. influence on Cuba’s language, religion, music, and sports
• The enduring place of Cuba, and especially Havana, in U.S. popular culture
• Literary, cultural, artistic, and musical exchanges between Cuba and the United States
• Scientific, technical, and educational collaboration between the two countries

Guidelines for Presenting Panels and Papers
Although we prefer panel proposals, we will attempt to group individual papers in sessions according to shared themes. Panels will ideally include four paper presenters, a chair (who may be one of the presenters), and a discussant. Panels may feature five paper presentations if they do not include a discussant. Each presentation will be limited to 20 minutes. Participants may perform two roles at the conference (chair, discussant, roundtable participant, or paper presenter), but may not present more than one paper. Submissions may be in English or Spanish.

Proposals for panels or roundtables must include a general description of the theme and one-page abstracts of each participant’s paper. The following information must be submitted for each participant:

• Full name
•  Institutional affiliation
• Role in the session
• Title of presentation
• Postal address
• Office, cell, and home phone numbers
• Fax
• Email address

Persons wishing to submit individual papers must present a one-page abstract and all pertinent personal data.

The deadline for submission of all paper and panel proposals is October 31, 2016. Notifications of acceptance (or refusal) will be sent out by December 1, 2016. For further information about the conference and other CRI activities, please visit our website at https://cri.fiu.edu. All submissions and requests for information should be sent to cri.fiu.conference@gmail.com. An acknowledgement of receipt will be sent.

Registration Fees and Other Conference Expenses

All participants should be registered under one of the following categories. Registration fees include three continental breakfasts, coffee breaks, one reception, admission to an evening film screening, and all conference materials.

Pre-registration for the General Public (before February 10, 2017): $125
Onsite Registration: $150
Non-FIU Students: $35
FIU Students, Faculty, and Staff: Free of Charge

Each participant will be responsible for his or her own travel and lodging expenses, as well as the conference registration fee.

Above adapted from email.
Image from adrian.