Inspired by this David T's thread, https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/belgian-cuba.314282/
I wonder how Cuba would look like if Belgium had bought it?
I wonder how Cuba would look like if Belgium had bought it?
- Would the pattern of migration be different from OTL? Immigration to Cuba from Belgium is likely to be much larger than in OTL. Spanish migration however might be lower than in OTL, perhaps dramatically so. Belgium used to have a significantly larger population than Cuba, so it should be able for Belgian migrants to make a large impact. Belgian emigration OTL went mostly to France, USA, Canada and Brazil, though the Belgian diaspora appears to be relativly small. Might the Cuban population be significantly lower than in OTL due to lower amounts of immigrants?
- How significant would the Belgian impact on Cuban culture, language and litterature be, and vice versa? I imagine that like Belgium proper, Belgian Cuba is going to be heavily French influenced, even as French speakers are minority just as they were in Belgium proper. Perhaps French becomes the language of learning at Cuban institutions of higer education, aswell as governance. Cuba is likely to feature prominently in Belgian litterature and newspapers.
- How might the ideological landscape of Cuba differ from OTL?
- When would Cuban independance be likely? Ignoring butterflies, Cuba could potentially gain independance due to US intervention in the event of a Cuban war for independance. Alternativly the disruption caused by WW1 and the German occupation fo Belgium could weaken the Belgian hold over Cuba. Resulting from this might be Cuban independance or the lead up to Cuban independance. Alternativly Cuba might be content with it's union with Belgium and never demand independance. Cuban independance could also be secured and won thru a plebiscite. Would Cuban independacne be a fact from the very start or early compared to OTL?
- What might the Cuban economy look like in the event of Belgian Cuba? What will be the ties between the Cuban and Belgian economies?
- Assuming the negotiations are finished, would the news of the deal cause a unrest in Spain and in effect prevent it?
- Will Cubans use the handover agreement from Spain to Belgium as a chance for complete independance?
- Would the news of the deal cause other countries besides Belgium and Spain to press for it's abandonment? Someone is bound to mention the Monroe Doctrine. The Netherlands could potentially cause some trouble.
Demographics of Belgium - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Demographics of Cuba - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org