One of the most enduring features of the Cuban Revolution has been its internationalism, which sees the resources of the small Caribbean nation marshalled to provide trained doctors, literacy programmes and disaster relief beyond its borders. In addition to alleviating poverty, Cuban internationalism has helped develop bonds of solidarity between Cubans and marginalized populations, from Bolivia to Timor Leste.
The programme of medical assistance is one such example. Cuban medical personnel leave behind their families and homes to work in poor communities abroad; their labour helps to address shortages in those places and also generates income for the Cuban state. But recent events such as the planned withdrawal of 11,400 Cuban doctors from Brazil, after the newly elected far-right President Jair Bolsonaro questioned the terms of their contracts and qualifications, bring into question the viability and relevance of Cuban internationalism in a reconfigured world order.
