The phrase "no man is an island" can be easily applied to the case of Cuban politics. What the phrase means is that no person can remain unaffected by his context or by the actions of other people around him. We can extend this metaphor to describe the situation of different countries in the international arena.
In the case of Cuba, much of its cultural, historical and political legacy has been influenced by the actions of other countries. Cuba was colonized by the Spanish, which affected its development during the modern period. Moreover, after independence, it engaged in a revolution for full autonomy. During these years, Cuba adopted a communist ideology that was influenced by the Soviet Union. However, this made Cuba an enemy of the United States, and this relationship and the eventual dismantling of the Soviet Union has shaped much of the recent history of the island.
Past events have affected Cuba in many ways, but it is unclear how the island will develop in the future. It is likely that, as time goes by, capitalism becomes more accepted in Cuba. This is likely to increase the relationship between Cuba and the United States.
