Social media and authoritarianism

A review of Cuban digital policy

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29105/gmjmx20.38-493

Keywords:

digital politic, authoritarianism, communicational policies, digital communication, Cuba

Abstract

The following paper starts from the premise that the classification of the Cuban regime lacks a comprehensive theoretical framework and a systematic examination of empirical patterns to better understand Cuba's digital politics. Therefore, the research compiles different criteria on the categorization of Cuban authoritarianism, where the historical evolution is taken into account, to culminate with the exposition of those characteristics in the digital political scenario, which will be our case evidence. The study has a qualitative character and is supported by the logical-historical methods of the marxist social theory and systematic review of the literature. It examines the research published on the subject in this century with the aim of identifying the key elements of the relationship between regime type and digital policies on the Internet. From this development it is concluded that another path of ideas opens up as ICTs become more frequent on the island and, while some are betting on breaking the old adages that have eaten away at the Cuban system, through different variants that promote these technologies; the others, clinging to power, have also learned to use to their advantage the benefits offered by the Internet and its range of applications.

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Published

2023-01-30

How to Cite

Martínez Acebal, L. Y. (2023). Social media and authoritarianism: A review of Cuban digital policy. Global Media Journal México, 20(38), 71–93. https://doi.org/10.29105/gmjmx20.38-493