Castro Practicing Capitalism?

[Shi Huangdi]

"Pretty much the only thing you can hold against Castro is that he doesn't hold elections too often, but hey, let's cut the guy a little slack. "

Try holding elections never and add on political prisoners and a lack of freedom of the press and a lack of freedom to even leave. But then he is a lefty so you will of course excuse him....

[Static Universe]

I wouldn't be surprised if Cuba had some serious market reforms after Fidel finally kicks off.

I saw on interesting documentary last year about how Cuba was sending its senior military officers for management courses in Europe taught by American business gurus, like the 7 Highly Effective Habits guys, etc (If you want to call these people *gurus*).

Then they come back to Cuba and run their production facilities with what are effectively capitalist management techniques. Basically the idea is that since the Cuban army is rapidly dwindling post-Soviet Union, it gives ex-officers some useful skills at a level with the command responsibilities they've had for years, and they're not as likely to stir up trouble.

Raul Castro is masterminding this, and he's been slowly edging the country toward economic reforms and normalization of relations with the US for years. Good idea on his part, since he is Fidel's designated successor.

He desperately needs to stave off any potential Caribbean-style bloodbaths down the line that might impact Cuba's tourism industry, which makes up an increasing chunk of Cuba's economy now. They've made a major investment in the Hemingway legacy on the island, restoring locations, papers, etc, and are drawing a lot of people from Europe. Tourism is the glue holding it all together.

If Raul doesn't get a smooth transition, the whole country could turn into another Haiti.

[Static Universe]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi

Try holding elections never and add on political prisoners and a lack of freedom of the press and a lack of freedom to even leave.

Cuba has elections.
Only one candidate, though.

[Berzerker]

monkspider - the woman is high up in the biotech industry, she's a former teacher. But I thought communism was about a class-less society. How can you have such a society if some people are given more than others when income disparity seems to be the primary indictment of capitalism offered by communists? Doesn't "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need" promote an equal distribution of wealth? If "the people" have equal shares in the means of production, how can some have greater shares than others?

GP -

Does a bear **** in the woods? Is the Pope Catholic? Are you tenditious?

Oh look, GP has learned a new word...well...almost...

[tandeetaylor]

Originally posted by monkspider
Obviously someone who studies to be a doctor is going to be making more than, say, a janitor. This is mere common sense.

You would think.

[Az]

[TCO]

Originally posted by Berzerker




Oh look, GP has learned a new word...well...almost...

I knew the word **** before.

[Ramo]

The difference between a capitalist economy and a communist economy is not the level of income disparity, but the ownership of the means of production (Castro, for instance, believes the state should own the means of production, hence he believes the state is justified in mandating these income disparities). Communists and other kinds of socialists generally don't believe there should be no income disparity, only that it should be significantly smaller than in a capitalist society.

[chequita guevara]

Re: Castro Practicing Capitalism?

Originally posted by Berzerker
Isn't people making varying incomes based on productive capacity a capitalist notion?

Nope. Read Marx's Critique of the Gotha Programme and Lenin's State and Revolution. Socialism demands equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. Capitalism simply demands you fork over your wallet.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by Static23
I wouldn't be surprised if Cuba had some serious market reforms after Fidel finally kicks off.

I saw on interesting documentary last year about how Cuba was sending its senior military officers for management courses in Europe taught by American business gurus, like the 7 Highly Effective Habits guys, etc (If you want to call these people *gurus*).

Then they come back to Cuba and run their production facilities with what are effectively capitalist management techniques. Basically the idea is that since the Cuban army is rapidly dwindling post-Soviet Union, it gives ex-officers some useful skills at a level with the command responsibilities they've had for years, and they're not as likely to stir up trouble.

Raul Castro is masterminding this, and he's been slowly edging the country toward economic reforms and normalization of relations with the US for years. Good idea on his part, since he is Fidel's designated successor.

He desperately needs to stave off any potential Caribbean-style bloodbaths down the line that might impact Cuba's tourism industry, which makes up an increasing chunk of Cuba's economy now. They've made a major investment in the Hemingway legacy on the island, restoring locations, papers, etc, and are drawing a lot of people from Europe. Tourism is the glue holding it all together.

If Raul doesn't get a smooth transition, the whole country could turn into another Haiti.

Your run down of the facts his pretty good as far as I can tell, but I don't think Cuba is in too much danger of becoming another Haiti. It certainly won't become another Haiti just because the lack of market reform.

The biggest problem that Cuba faces is economic sanctions from the US. The Communist system works very well there otherwise. Everyone works and they have eveything they need. In that respect you could say they do much better than we do in the United States.

Raul Castro may use market reform to improve relations with the United States, but I wouldn't expect a complete transition to Capitalism in Cuba because the people there are happy with things the way they are.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
"Pretty much the only thing you can hold against Castro is that he doesn't hold elections too often, but hey, let's cut the guy a little slack. "

Try holding elections never and add on political prisoners and a lack of freedom of the press and a lack of freedom to even leave. But then he is a lefty so you will of course excuse him....

Are you sure Cuba has more people who claim to be political prisoners there than we have people who claim to be political prisoners here? There are political prisoners everywhere.

[chequita guevara]

More likely they'll become like Haiti if they go through with market reforms.

[Static Universe]

Originally posted by DuncanK

Your run down of the facts his pretty good as far as I can tell, but I don't think Cuba is in too much danger of becoming another Haiti. It certainly won't become another Haiti just because the lack of market reform.

The biggest problem that Cuba faces is economic sanctions from the US. The Communist system works very well there otherwise. Everyone works and they have eveything they need. In that respect you could say they do much better than we do in the United States.

Raul Castro may use market reform to improve relations with the United States, but I wouldn't expect a complete transition to Capitalism in Cuba because the people there are happy with things the way they are.

Left on their own, I doubt Cuba will become Haiti also. But you have to remember that there is a large group of fairly right-wing, very wealthy potential Cuban agitators in Florida. They have a long history of paramilitary adventurism and would like to lay claim to their former property, i.e. most of Cuba's land.

They have had great difficulty infiltrating or influencing events in Cuba over the years, and their presence there will open a whole new can of worms if the travel block is ever lifted, which it may soon be.

Raul's pragmatic economic policies have long been an important component in Cuba's survival, but I have to wonder how long he'll last on his own. He's always worked in his brother's shadow, and his strongest ability has been to maintain the stability of the Cuban Communist Party from within.

Becoming it's top man will be a big change in his position and may undercut his negotiating abilities within the party itself. Plus, he's not exactly young himself, and any return of Cuban emigres, all of whom hate him, will be very dangerous for him and the current Cuban government.

Given that they have long held the ear of U.S. intelligence and have a friend in the White House, it probably wouldn't be difficult to throw the country into chaos post-Fidel to achieve their aim: return to economic and political prominence in Cuba. Mostly descended from the previous political/economic regime in Cuba, they see themselves as the true leaders of Cuba.

Raul's reforms are very similar to China's in that they revolve around the idea of entrepreneurialism and not the strict capitalist model. But without Raul and a strong Cuban Communist government, my prediction is that the country will be thrown first into chaos, then into right-wing capitalism.

[DuncanK]

Interesting remarks.

I don't think the Cuban exiles will have that much influence, but I think they very well may try to sabotage the current government there.

[chequita guevara]

There are people in South Florida who think they are the next government of Cuba. I wish we could get rid of them, but I'd hate to fob them off on someone else. . . . Maybe we can send them to Afganistan!