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The Dictator’s Dilemma and the Politics of Telecommunications in Cuba: A Case Study. By Rachel Fredman. Overview. Background and motivation Research question Field research Findings Summary and questions. The Dictator’s Dilemma: Background. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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BY RACHEL FREDMAN
The Dictator’s Dilemma and the Politics of Telecommunications in
Cuba: A Case Study
Overview
Background and motivationResearch questionField researchFindingsSummary and questions
The Dictator’s Dilemma: Background
Information revolution: gov’t <-> civil society relationship1. Internet empowers civil society; inevitable force for democracy2. States are becoming more savvy in regulating the information revolution
Is the Internet an insurmountable threat to authoritarian rule? Balancing commercial benefits of information revolution with political control
“Totalitarian societies face a dilemma: either they try to
stifle these technologies and thereby fall further behind in the new industrial revolution,
or else they permit these technologies and see their
totalitarian control inevitably eroded.” – George Schultz,
1985
Cuba in Context of Dictator’s Dilemma
Restricted access Lowest internet penetration rate in Western
Hemisphere Cell phone ban until 2008 Gov’t approved scientists, medical researchers, gov’t
officials granted licenses for access Prohibition on private computer sales Public access points: monitoring and intranet Price constraints
Motivation
Control…
Motivation
Source: OpenNet Initiative http://opennet.net/research/profiles/cuba
Research Question
Cost / benefit analysis: At what economic cost does the Cuban government
restrict ICT access to maintain political control?
Independent variable: training and support for IT professionals in Cuba
Dependent variable: level of economic development for ICT sector
Economic deadweight loss?
Field Research
3 weeks in mid-August
Methods: Qualitative interviews Field visits Cuban gov’t publications
Methods DetailsTelephone Interviews Duration Occurrences
Academic – Cuban economist 30 minutes 1
Academic - Cuban blogosphere 1 hour 2EU Representative, Havana 30 minutes 1
Commercial Representative, Italian Embassy Havana 30 minutes 1
Commercial Representative, Canadian Embassy Havana 30 minutes 1
Email Correspondences Sent ReceivedUniversity of Havana Affiliate 6 6Academic - IT engineering specialist 4 4Former UK Ambassador to Cuba 10 9Executive Director, Cuba Study Group 4 3In-person interviews Duration Occurrences
University of Havana cultural liaison 1 hour 2Commercial Representative, Japanese Embassy Havana 1 hour 1
Cuban dissident blogger 2 hours 2Cuban dissident blogger 2 hours 1BBC journalist 2 hours 1Reuters journalist 2 hours 1Former UK Ambassador to Cuba 1 hour 5Representative, US Interests Section Havana 1.5 hours 1
IDICT Director of Organizational Development 1.5 hours 1
Ciencias de la Information Editor 1.5 hours 1
Field visits Location DurationInstituto de Información Científica y Tecnológica (IDICT) Miramar 2 hours
Young Communist League Central Central Havana 30 minutes
Infomed Headquarters Vedado 30 minutes
Research Findings
Research Findings
Research Findings
Venture financing in U.S. market…
Research Findings
Venture financing / entrepreneurship in Cuban market…
Summary
Cuba as a case study of dictator’s dilemma
Research IT professional / entrepreneurship within Cuba
At what economic cost does the Cuban government restrict ICT access to maintain political control?
Develop analytical framework for generalizable research conclusions
Summary
Questions?