The Effects of Policy on Cuban Transnational Families

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of nations' policies on transnational families, specifically looking at Cuban families. Transnationalism is a relatively young theory, it was developed in the mid-1990s as an alternative to the migration theories of assimilation and integration. Scholars argued at the time that migrants were actively maintaining ties with their homeland while also establishing themselves in their respective receiving nations. The transnational practices of families are greatly impacted by the policies of both the home nation and the receiving nation, making Cuba a unique case to examine given the governments' extreme control over migration since the revolution in 1959. This paper looks at the theory of transnationalism and what role the state has played in the internal dynamics of family units as well as in the creation of transnational families altogether. The researcher specifically asks how the perception of Cuban transnational families has changed over time, primarily looking at the period of 1959 – 2000, with some reflection on modern day. This research is the result of an in-depth review of the literature, as well as a two-week study tour to Cuba.