That Infernal Little Cuban Republic: The United States and the Cuban Revolution

That Infernal Little Cuban Republic examines U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba from the 1950s through multiple American presidencies. The book focuses on the decision-making processes and attitudes of U.S. officials as they grappled with Cuba's revolution and its aftermath. Drawing from declassified documents and extensive research, Lars Schoultz analyzes key moments in U.S.-Cuba relations across several decades. He traces how different administrations approached the challenges posed by Castro's regime and Cuba's alignment with the Soviet Union. The narrative covers major events including the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the evolution of economic sanctions. Schoultz examines both public statements and private communications between policymakers to reconstruct their perspectives and choices. The book reveals patterns in how U.S. policymakers viewed Cuba and illustrates broader themes about American approaches to Latin America during and after the Cold War. Through this focused study of U.S.-Cuba relations, Schoultz raises questions about the nature of American foreign policy and great power politics.

Readers cite this book's deep research and detailed analysis of US-Cuba relations through extensive archival documents. Several reviewers noted its insights into how US policymakers' paternalistic attitudes shaped decades of Cuba policy. Liked: - Clear chronological organization - Inclusion of both public statements and private communications - Dense documentary evidence while remaining readable - Balanced treatment of multiple administrations' approaches Disliked: - Academic writing style can be dry - Focus mainly on US perspective rather than Cuban view - Some sections get bogged down in policy minutiae - Limited coverage of post-Cold War period Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (11 reviews) One academic reviewer called it "the most thorough account to date of Washington's relations with revolutionary Cuba." Multiple readers recommended it for serious students of US-Latin American relations but noted it may be too detailed for casual readers.

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🔷 Author Lars Schoultz is considered one of the foremost scholars on U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America, having taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for over 40 years. 🔷 The book's title comes from a quote by Theodore Roosevelt, who in 1907 referred to Cuba as "that infernal little Cuban republic" in a private letter expressing his frustration with Cuban politics. 🔷 The work covers over 50 years of U.S.-Cuba relations, from 1959 through the George W. Bush administration, drawing extensively from declassified government documents and presidential libraries. 🔷 Schoultz argues that U.S. policy toward Cuba has been consistently shaped by three factors: national security concerns, domestic politics, and the belief in American cultural superiority. 🔷 The book reveals how every U.S. administration since Eisenhower has attempted to overthrow or destabilize Castro's government, making it one of the longest-running campaigns against a foreign government in American history.