Stigma In International Relations

This dissertation is devoted to the theoretical study of stigma phenomenon in international relations and to investigate interactive relationship between Cuba and the U.S. after Cuban Revolution from stigma-centered perspective.The existence of stigma phenomenon in international relations is based on the assumption that international politics possesses a certain extent of social tribute. From this, we can explore why the stigmatized country must struggle for recognition when faced with external stigma pressure so as to maintain its ontological security. And then,the production mechanism of stigma, the role of onlookers in international society and the mechanism of the stigmatized country coping with stigma will be analyzed in the international society context. Besides, this paper argues that the change of the stigmatized country’s internal identity is the main variable deciding on how the stigmatized country answering to the stigma pressure.In the case part, the paper discusses the interactive relationship between Cuba and the U.S., hoping to understand how Cuba maintained its identity stability and national security when faced with incessant ferocious pressure forced by the neighboring hegemony. The stigma-coping styles of Cuba show different characteristics between in the Cold War era and in the Post-cold War era. In the Cold War era, the stigma pressure posed by the U.S. not only failed to bring Cuba back to the free world society,but it also strengthened Cuba’s adherence to revolutionary and socialism cause.Furthermore, Cuba carried on counter-stigmatization through exporting revolution,drawing the left-wing forces over its side and setting itself as an example for the third world countries. In the Post-cold War era, Cuba remains its internal ideology featured with prosperous and enduring socialism. At the same time, Cuba accepted and embedded itself in the mainstream value held by the international society which is different from that in the Cold War era. Since Cuba’s national development purpose and its international humanitarian actions correspond to the new consensus of international community, the international society gradually accepts Cuba as a normal country to be one member of the world family sharing common values and norms.This results in the failure of stigmatization on Cuba posed by America’s unilateral actions, so Cuba’s identity is sustained and renovated in peaceful international environment.