What of post-Castro Cuba?

Fidel Castro: What holds Cuba together?

The conversation went something like this:

'Did you know that Cuban’s have free healthcare and their system is so much more efficient than our NHS?' 'Yes, and the way they stuck to their Communist guns in the face of America’s brutal, capitalist aggression proves that a successful nation can be run on Marxist principles.' 'And apparently, the streets are paved with gold and all the children have gummy drop smiles…' and on and on ad-nauseam.

'And apparently, the streets are paved with gold and all the children have gummy drop smiles…' and on and on ad-nauseam.

The utter delusion on display was so disturbing that I could hardly finish my breakfast. It is true that Cuba’s health system is free, a positive by-product of years of Soviet funding and something which America might want to look in to. However, free does not necessarily equate to fair. Most of the newer and better equipped hospitals in Havana are funded by Venezuela, a majority of their patients, well-to-do Venezuelans with minor complaints like thrush and bunions. The rest have to make do with dilapidated pre-soviet buildings and a dearth of basic medical supplies, especially since the mid 1990’s when Castro decided it was more important to spend money on his internal security apparatus than on sutures and aspirin.

The fact that Castro’s dictatorship has seen as smooth transition of power is remarkable and defies fifty years of Western nay saying. However, this is certainly not a triumph of Communism over Capitalism. Castro’s decision to ‘stick to his guns’ was only possible because of the USSR’s economically insensible support. For years, the Soviets bought Cuban sugar (the staple Cuban export) at above market price and in return, sold Cuba oil at below market price. When the Soviet Union collapsed and the subsidies dried up, the Cuban economy went into a tailspin, its GDP declining by 35% in four years. Cuba’s partial recovery from this catastrophe was a result of economic liberalisation, promoting tourism and allowing foreign investment; distinctly anti Communist measures.

Fidel Castro’s success is a product of geography and circumstance, not ideology.

Fidel Castro’s success is a product of geography and circumstance, not ideology. Cuba’s proximity to the United States made it the ideal attack dog for the USSR, who paid Castro to act as a thorn in the proverbial American side. The United States through their active opposition to Castro’s regime just cemented his position further. Whenever Castro’s iron grip looked like it might be weakening, the American government would enact another Bay of Pigs style blunder emboldening Castro and uniting his subjects in the face of an aggressive, capitalist enemy.

In his successor Raul (Fidel’s not much younger brother), there is an inkling of hope. Although he is a dyed-in-the-wool Communist with a half century record as a hard line defence minister, his brief reign as de facto leader has seen a more open, collegiate approach to governance. He has openly stated that the average wage of $19 a month is too little to live on and he has frequently raised the idea of revaluing the Cuban peso to increase individual spending power and in doing so, stimulate a stagnant economy. However, while his brother’s shadow hangs heavy over the island, any process of reform will be slow and painful.

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