Blog Post #1- The Evolution of Cuba: Will Cuba Ever Become a Capitalist Country?

The Soviet Union and Fidel Castro Ruz were both in favor of socialism; however, in my opinion socialism is the last thing a country should follow. Socialism is when businesses and properties are controlled by the government to ensure equality. The sole reason why socialism will always fail is because of the way the system is designed is not compatible with the way of human behavior. Incentives are missing from socialism. Whereas, with a capitalist economy, incentives are what the economy runs off of and all of which creates efficiency in an economy. I believe in a sense Castro tried to help his country at times but ended up destroying his country based on the way the economy was run. “After taking power, Castro abolished legal discrimination, brought electricity to the countryside, provided for full employment and advanced the causes of education and health care, in part by building new schools and medical facilities” (“Fidel Castro”). Socialism doesn’t create economic growth; for example, if you have three farmers and one farmer tried hard to have a good harvest and the other two farmers don’t work as hard, but the government will still pay all of them the same wage to have equality. This will make the farmer that tried not want to work as hard if they are all getting paid the same. According to Dr. Giselle Castro, that those who have, now have more and those who don’t, continue to slide and you can still see inequality and can tell the different classes of people in Cuba when socialism is supposed to eliminate that factor (“Capitalism in Cuba” 12:45). Even young students in Cuba are wanting to continue socialism because that is all they have been taught in school, but the older generation in Cuba do not agree at times.

Raúl Castro, Fidel’s brother, took control of Cuba due to his brother’s old age. For the last decade, Raúl has not changed much in Cuba and no reforms have been made. According to Dr. Jose Azel, he believes that Raúl will not do anything to diminish his brother’s regime (“Cuba After Castro” 6:09). However, Cuba is starting to make slow strides of change. People are now allowed to have privately owned business with limitations. I am in agreeance with Dr. Jose Azel but I also disagree at the same time. I believe that the brother, Raúl, will do whatever he can to keep his brother’s regime and memory intact. But, I believe in order for him to remain in power he must continue to follow the ways of the regime or he will be overthrown by other Cuban officials because that’s all they have ever known. I also believe he is trying to make an effort in trying to slowly change Cuba by now allowing privately owned business, allowing internet access, ending the US trade embargo, and more. Everything must be done in good time especially dealing with a country who has been in a regime for the past half-century and in a very fragile state. Do you believe Cuba is making strides towards becoming a capitalist economy? If Fidel Castro Ruz never gained power of Cuba, do you think the economy would be in a better state than it is now? What are some other possible changes that Cuba can make in order to install capitalism? Or would it be beneficial for Cuba to remain in socialism or change to capitalism? Share your thoughts.