Look beyond the surface

Cuba, a Caribbean island just 100 miles from Florida, boasts rich culture and beautiful beaches, and is known for cigars, rum, and classic cars. Yet, it is also the oldest surviving dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere after the end of the Cold War. Frozen in time since the 1950s, its architecture and cars are not just quaint relics but symbols of an oppressive regime that stifles innovation. While tourists may marvel at these picturesque scenes, they are hallmarks of failed economic policies and political repression. Conformity to the ruling party’s ideology is mandatory, with any form of dissent resulting in detention, exile, or even death. Behind its tropical charm, Cuba conceals a darker reality of totalitarian control and stifled progress.

Thailand, renowned for its food, culture, adventure, and stunning scenery, lures tourists with Pattaya’s beaches, Phi Phi Islands, Bangkok’s cityscape, and the serenity of Chiang Mai. However, beyond the tourist facade, Thailand grapples with political upheavals, including military-backed coups and limited civic space. A 2014 coup led to a junta suppressing dissent and, five years later, a transition to a civilian-led government with former coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha as prime minister. Despite its constitutional monarchy, the military’s historical ties to the monarchy allow it a central role, stifling democracy advocates amid the seemingly idyllic tourist experience.

Rwanda, a small, landlocked country in Africa’s Great Lakes region, is celebrated for its Switzerland-like landscapes, endangered mountain gorillas, and its capital, Kigali’s, status as a premier international conference hub. Visits to memorial sites commemorating the 1994 Rwandan Genocide present a skewed history, masking the regime’s role in the atrocities. Rwandans face repression for speaking against the regime and live in fear and poverty, with many groups marginalized, while President Paul Kagame’s global acclaim contrasts starkly with the reality of their lives, as Western dollars enrich the ruling elite.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a federation of seven Emirates, is renowned for the opulence and glamor of Dubai, featuring a bustling downtown, glittering beaches, and superlatives like the world’s tallest tower and largest mall. Beneath these accolades lies one of the world’s most repressive monarchies. The regime employs spyware, mass trials, and severe punishments to suppress journalists and activists. Migrant workers, who are the backbone of the UAE’s development, face exploitation, passport confiscation, wage theft, coerced work, and unsafe living conditions upon arrival.