Meeting the Conditions of Being a Diaspora : The Case of the Cuban Diaspora in the United States of America

Abstract: This thesis aims to observe and distinguish if the Cuban Diaspora in the U.S. still meets the conditions of being a diaspora. To examine this purpose, the thesis answer the tree following research questions: 1. How has the immigration of Cubans in the United States of Americas developed over the years? 2. What are the features of the present Cuban Diaspora in the United States of America? 3. Has the Cuban Diaspora changed its affiliation towards its homeland or host land? To answer these questions a theoretical framework has been made with three main points of what characteristics a diaspora has, which has been summarized from different researcher’s definition of the meaning of diaspora. The study is a case study, which will be formed by the method of a qualitative desk study, using the tool of process tracing. This for the ability to collect and process vast amounts of data, systematically go through the historical process of the Cuban diaspora in the U.S. that leads up to the present time and then analyze this with the theoretical framework. The conclusion of this essay shows a change within the Cuban Diaspora in the U.S. but is unable to point out clear that the diaspora does not meet the conditions of the chosen framework. The conclusion states that further research needs to be done within this area.