Cuba regime: past, present and future

Fidel Castro's regime of 41-years ended Feb. 24, 2008, when he stepped down due to his declining health. Defense minister and brother of the 81-year old, Raul Castro, was nominated by Cuba's National Assembly to take Castro's place after he retires. The 76-year-old has been running the country since July 31, 2006 when his brother had emergency intestinal surgery according to Reuters.

The prior ruler of the one-party system in Cuba who charmed many with his charisma and machismo, "totally changed the Cuban regime when he came into power in 1959. From a capitalist system, he switched to a communist one, through a revolution. This was to benefit the poor people of Cuba," said Leonore Blum, associate professor of political science, international relations and director of the international studies program at College of Notre Dame.

The Communist regime found in Cuba under Castro's control 41-years ago was a popular break from an oppressive dictatorship under Osvalda Dorticos Torrado according to Dr. Anne Henderson, associate academic dean at Notre Dame, former professor of political science at William and Mary College in Virginia. But "the Communist regime promised an end to oppression but Fidel has not fulfilled any of his promises in his entire rule," She said, "Fidel played on Cuba's nationalistic pride for it's breaking away from U.S control since the United States was a big brother to Cuba in financial support. The United States expected loyalty, but Cuba wanted freedom from the country's control. But even to this day, many Cubans support Castro's regime due to strong nationalism."

What also happened when Fidel Castro's regime came to power was that the " the upper and middle classes fled to Miami when he came to power, since they knew they would lose their property and their freedoms. In general, Cuba has become a more egalitarian (belief in the equality of all people, esp. in political, economic, or social life) society since 1959," Blum said. "the government makes sure that everyone gets health care and an education. Although food and housing are also provided," the international relations director adds, "These two benefits have been more problematic. Each Cuban receives a monthly ration card for food with which he can obtain the basics, but there are shortages, so frequently the basics are not available."

Blum said, " On the whole, the Cuban economy has not thrived because the Communist regime discourages initiative and competition. People feel they don't need to work hard because they get paid by the government, their employer, no matter whether they show up or not. Cubans claim their economy is not working because of the U.S embargo."

Castro, who outlived past six presidents who tried to overthrow him, used his charms with the people of Cuba to extend his rule. Whenever Bustamente and her family, watched Fidel on TV, she said he, "had a nice personality and acts like a nice person." However not everyone in Cuba was amused by his charms. Bustamente remembered a time when Castro fell down in the middle of his famous, hours long speeches and people laughed, chortled and gaggled. " When I lived in Miami after 2002, that scene was repeated a 100 times in several spanish TV stations."

Professors wonder if Cuba's regime under Castro brother will change much. Blum predicts, "Raul, although he declared himself a Communist long before Fidel, is less of an ideologue than his brother and more pragmatic. I am not saying that he will turn Cuba into a capitalist country, nor that he will negotiate for better relations with the United States, just that he has already said he will permit Cubans to travel more by issuing travel permits and that he will be more friendly to foreign investment (not American of course) in sectors other than tourism."

While Henderson foresees that " Raul Castro faces a historic chase, when Fidel dies, since people will try to overthrow him, he will fear transition from pre-Castro to after-Castro and he may be more strict than old regimes in Eastern Europe that were more liberal."

She also said, " If he were wise, he should try to improve relations with foreign nations but I doubt he will for the United States." Time is the best indicator on whether the new successor will scratch or smash the past regime. But if Raul Castro can do it with a smirk and live past seven U.S presidents then anything is possible.