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The Dictator’s Dilemma and the Politics of Telecommunications in Cuba: A Case Study

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.

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The Dictator’s Dilemma and the Politics of Telecommunications in Cuba: A Case Study

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  1. The Dictator’s Dilemma and the Politics of Telecommunications in Cuba: A Case Study By Rachel Fredman

  2. Overview Background and motivation Research question Field research Findings Summary and questions

  3. The Dictator’s Dilemma: Background • Information revolution: gov’t <-> civil society relationship • Internet empowers civil society; inevitable force for democracy • 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

  4. 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

  5. Motivation Control…

  6. Motivation Source: OpenNet Initiative http://opennet.net/research/profiles/cuba

  7. 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?

  8. Field Research • 3 weeks in mid-August • Methods: • Qualitative interviews • Field visits • Cuban gov’t publications

  9. Research Findings

  10. Research Findings

  11. Research Findings Venture financing in U.S. market…

  12. Research Findings Venture financing / entrepreneurship in Cuban market…

  13. 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

  14. Summary Questions?

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