A former Cuban diplomat and prominent political analyst will discuss the relationship between the United States and Cuba this week.
Carlos Alzugaray Treto will present two lectures on campus, “Cuban-U.S. Relations — Putting an End to the Cold War” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. this Wednesday in the Presidents Hall and “Cuban Futures: The Short Term and the Long Term” from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the School of Global and International Studies auditorium.
The lectures will be free and open to the public, according to an IU press release.
Alzugaray, who has worked in Asia, Africa, Europe, South America and North America, teaches courses in foreign policy, international affairs and Latin American and Caribbean political integration at the Instituto Superior de Relaciones Internacionales in Havana, Cuba, according to the release.
He has previously served as a Cuban diplomat, foreign service officer and ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, according to the release. He has also served as a visiting professor in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Spain and Italy, and has won five annual awards for outstanding teaching and two for outstanding research.
In addition to speaking publicly, Alzugaray will speak with smaller groups in the School of Education and Center of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, according to the release.
“Alzugaray is a historian of Cuban-American relations who has closely studied the reasons for decades of failed communications between the U.S. administration and Cuba,” said Anke Birkenmaier, director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, in the release. “In other words, he is the man of the hour, who will offer a uniquely informed, representative Cuban viewpoint on the potential of the recent thaw in U.S.-Cuban relations both for Cuba and the United States.”
IU is one of 12 universities selected nationally by the Institute of International Education to brainstorm ways to improve relations between the U.S. and Cuba in higher education, according to the release.
“These programs recognize IU’s unique talents and experience in areas of interest to Cuba like environmental sustainability, public policy, music and literature, and informatics and computing,” said Rajendra Abhyankar, professor of diplomacy and public affairs in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, in the release.
Ashleigh Sherman
