Castro keeps the lid on Cuban ‘capitalism’

Posted on Friday, 08.09.13

CUBAN ECONOMY



Castro keeps the lid on Cuban 'capitalism'

BY JAIME SUCHLICKI

JSUCHLICKI@MIAMI.EDU



The limited economic changes introduced by Gen. Raúl Castro in Cuba are

encouraging some observers to proclaim the end of communism and the

dismantling of the totalitarian system in the island.



Notwithstanding Raúl Castro's own statements that he was not elected to

restore capitalism, these observers insist on their belief that economic

reforms will be deepened and Cuba will march merrily into capitalism or

at least a Chinese-style capitalism.



If the objectives of the Castro government were truly to move toward a

market economy, it would not limit economic enterprises to some 181

individual activities — i.e., barbershops, shoe shinning, pizza parlors;

to lease vacant lands to individual farmers to produce mostly

subsistence agriculture; or to liberalize the real estate and auto

market. In addition, the onerous taxes, regulations, and license fees

imposed on these activities are not conducive toward the development of

free enterprise.



With Fidel alive, or even when he is dead, it would be difficult for

Gen. Castro to reject his brother's legacy of political and economic

centralization. Raúl's legitimacy is based on being Fidel's heir. Any

major move to reject Fidel's "teachings" would create uncertainty among

Cuba's ruling elites — party and military. It could also increase

instability as some would advocate rapid change, while others cling to

more orthodox policies. Cubans could see this as an opportunity for

mobilization, demanding faster reforms.



For Raúl, the uncertainties of uncorking the genie's bottle in Cuba are

greater than keeping the lid on and moving cautiously. For the past 53

years, political considerations have always dictated the economic

decisions of the communist leadership in the island.



Raúl is no Deng Xiaoping, Mikhail Gorbachev or a pragmatist in military

uniform.



He was the longest serving minister of defense (47 years). He presided

over the worst periods of political repression and economic

centralization in Cuba and is responsible for numerous executions after

he and his brother assumed power, and some while in Mexico and the

Sierra Maestra before reaching power.



Raúl has been a loyal follower and cheerleader of Fidel's anti-American

and pro-Soviet policies and military interventions in Africa and elsewhere.



In 1962, Raúl and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev conspired to

surreptitiously introduce nuclear missiles into Cuba. Raúl supervised

the Americas Department in Cuba, approving support for terrorist,

guerrilla and revolutionary groups throughout Latin America, and the

Middle East.



In 1996 he personally ordered the shooting down of two Brothers to the

Rescue unarmed civilian planes in international waters, killing three

U.S. citizens and one Cuban-American resident from Florida.



At 82 years of age, General Castro wants to muddle through these

difficult times introducing limited changes. His aim is to calm down a

growing unhappy population and to prevent a social explosion, not to

transform Cuba into a capitalist society. By his actions and statements,

Castro is signaling that Cuba will remain a failed totalitarian

experiment for the foreseeable future.



Jaime Suchlicki is Emilio Bacardi Moreau distinguished professor and

director of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies,

University of Miami.



Source: "Castro keeps the lid on Cuban 'capitalism' - Other Views -

MiamiHerald.com" -

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/09/3553317/castro-keeps-the-lid-on-cuban.html