The Reasons Behind the “Changes” in Cuba

The Reasons Behind the "Changes" in Cuba

April 30, 2014

Dariela Aquique



HAVANA TIMES — As of 1960, Cuba was taken under the wing of the former

Soviet Union and became one of its key bastions in the Cold War waged by

the world's two superpowers and their political and economic blocs. The

overseas Communist satellite was fashioned in the image of its mentors:

atheistic, totalitarian and other demons.



Hoping to export Marxist ideology to other parts of the hemisphere, the

island sent doctors and teachers to countries around the continent in

order to secure their sympathy and gratitude, while at the same time

sending troops and military advisors to different guerrilla movements.



The death of Che Guevara and the defeat of many of these guerrilla

movements, the coup d'états and military dictatorships installed across

Latin America, the electoral defeat of the Sandinistas in Nicaragua

(Feb. 1990) and the peace accords of 1989, served to undermine Cuba's

efforts to propagate its political model.



Also in 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. Two years later, the Soviet Union

collapsed. With the fall of State socialism and the rise of

neoliberalism, the moderation of the capitalist economy seemed the only

viable option.



That, however, presupposed hasty changes to the country's political

system and, as such, constituted a threat to the island's totalitarian

regime. Despite this, the Cuban government, faced with an economic

crisis, had no choice but to trace new strategies and introduced a

number of market-oriented reforms, such as the development of the

tourism industry, the legalization of the dollar, the authorization of

self-employment and foreign investment.



These measures were implemented on a small scale and resulted in a

degree of economic growth that was not enough to lift the ruined

national economy off the ground. They did, however, serve to keep the

system, which has always favored a centralized State economy, from

collapsing.



At the close of the last century, Left and Center-Left parties suddenly

became popular and came to power in some countries. Hugo Chavez, a

disciple of the Castro, became the president of Venezuela and a new

patron of the island's government (which it supplied with 100 thousand

barrels of oil a day).



The region, however, was still haunted by prejudices against the

communist specter, and people harbored many reservations vis-à-vis any

version of Cuba's absolutist political system.



The new Latin American Left claims to lay its bets on changes that

involve a reduction of poverty and the gradual elimination of social

inequality. There are even those who speak of a new, Christian socialism

that respects democracy, can co-exist with the opposition and supports

private enterprise.



Cuba had to get in step with the times and grow closer to its new

friends. Medical and other types of internationalist missions served to

strengthen diplomatic ties and consolidate financial and commercial

collaboration and exchange treaties between the island and nearly all

countries in the continent within the context of so-called "Latin

American integration."



To win over allies in the region and reduce existing ill-will, Cuba had

to change in the eyes of world public opinion – it had to show itself

more tolerant and inclusive. The Mariel Special Development Zone is an

example of how the island has managed to take in more dividends.



These are the reasons behind the wave of disconcerting "changes" in

Cuba, which are aimed at disguising the parasitic nature of the

country's economy as it adjusts itself to the new times, when, if you're

not open minded, you are simply left behind.



We are seeing a Cuba that has spread its legs to foreign investment, a

Cuba now announcing it will make Internet available to everyone, which

allows people to buy and sell houses and cars, go to hotels, travel

without a permit and own a cell phone, all the while capitalizing on the

enthusiasm over Latin American integration.



Source: The Reasons Behind the "Changes" in Cuba - Havana Times.org -

http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=103334