Understanding College Student’s Perceptions of Cuba: Is Knowledge of the Cuban Missile Crisis Relevant?

Indianapolis, IN

One of the most intriguing and unique issues for the U.S. government is the United States' relationship with Cuba. It is common knowledge that the United States and Cuba do not have a friendly political or social relationship, but it is less common for individuals to have an understanding of the missile crisis and why the United States does not maintain a relationship with Cuba. The purpose of this study is to understand whether or not our millennial generation is prepared to tackle the issue of Cuban-American relations. This study examines how students perceive the country of Cuba. It also will attempt to determine whether or not their knowledge of the Cuban Missile Crisis is relevant to their perception using data gathered from students at a small, private, Midwestern university. In-depth interviews will be conducted to explore how much students actually know about the history of Cuba and the United States. Questions will range from general questions about each country's history and then narrow down into perceptions that individuals may have based off of their previous knowledge. Given the limited research in this area, this study has the potential to not only expand our understanding of the issue, but to inspire other research as well.