EXPERTS ADVISORY

President Obama plans to visit Cuba March 21-22—the first U.S. presidential trip to the nation in 90 years. The president will then travel to Argentina for a two-day stay. Experts at the University of Michigan can discuss the trip:

Mel Levitsky, professor of international policy and practice at the Ford School of Public Policy, can discuss the diplomatic and political aspects of the visit. Levitsky is a retired U.S. ambassador who closely follows Latin America.

“President Obama is going to Cuba to cap off what he and his supporters believe was one of his most positive foreign policy accomplishments,” he said. “While there are a number of Cuban-Americans who disagree with the re-establishment of relations with Cuba, that number is diminishing as the younger generation begins to step out front. In any case, visiting Cuba just after the pope’s visit protects the president to a degree from harsh criticism. Many Americans would like to visit the island, and the president will be making his official visit just as negotiations for direct flights from the U.S. are taking place.

“As for the Argentine visit, I believe the trip there is meant to show support for the country’s new president, Mauricio Macri. President Macri has broken with the policies of the Kirchner government and has expressed his intention to reform the Argentine economy, open up the political system and govern in a sensible, centrist manner. He will be much easier to work with than the previous government, and the Obama visit should give a boost to a more productive relationship between our two countries.”

Contact: 734-615-4262, levitsky@umich.edu

Silvia Pedraza, professor of sociology and American culture, can discuss the impact of the embargo on Cuban society. She is the author of “False Hope: Political Disaffection in Cuba’s Revolution in Exodus.” A native of Cuba, Pedraza has traveled extensively to Cuba over the years.

Contact: 734-647-3659, spedraza@umich.edu

Ruth Behar, professor of anthropology and women’s studies, can discuss how renewed ties are affecting Cuba. She is the author of several books, including “Bridges to Cuba.”

Behar is also a native of Cuba who immigrated to the U.S. as a 5-year-old child after the revolution. She has visited Cuba many times and has written extensively about crossing cultural borders.

Contact: 734-936-0365, rbehar@umich.edu