Full Version: Fidel Castro's Resignation
Earlier this week, Fidel Castro announced his resignation as leader of the Cuban Communist Party, which coincides with liberalization of property laws:
http://www.businessinsider.com/castro-resi...4#ixzzG3psr7KL2
Not surprisingly, Castro's old guard stays in power:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/20...oints-old-guard
What effect (if any) will Castro's resignation have on Cuban liberalization and US-Cuban relations?
QUOTE
Fidel Castro, 84, announced his resignation from leadership of the Cuba Communist Party today in an article published on Cubadebate.cu.
Along with the changing face of the Communist Party comes the easing of Cuba's property laws.
The BBC reports that for the first time since the 1959 Communist Revolution, Cubans will now be allowed to buy and sell private property. For more than 50 years, Cubans' have been restricted to passing their homes on to their children, or engaging in a corrupt system of swapping.
Along with the changing face of the Communist Party comes the easing of Cuba's property laws.
The BBC reports that for the first time since the 1959 Communist Revolution, Cubans will now be allowed to buy and sell private property. For more than 50 years, Cubans' have been restricted to passing their homes on to their children, or engaging in a corrupt system of swapping.
http://www.businessinsider.com/castro-resi...4#ixzzG3psr7KL2
Not surprisingly, Castro's old guard stays in power:
QUOTE
Even former Cuban leader Fidel Castro seemed to embrace the message. “The new generation is called to rectify and change without hesitation all that must be rectified and changed,” he wrote in the state newspaper Granma.
But by the time the Congress wrapped up Tuesday, new leaders were named to the Communist Party, and none of the top three positions went to anyone younger than 78, leaving the old guard in power and frustrating those Cubans eager for a political shakeup.
But by the time the Congress wrapped up Tuesday, new leaders were named to the Communist Party, and none of the top three positions went to anyone younger than 78, leaving the old guard in power and frustrating those Cubans eager for a political shakeup.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/20...oints-old-guard
What effect (if any) will Castro's resignation have on Cuban liberalization and US-Cuban relations?
What effect (if any) will Castro's resignation have on Cuban liberalization and US-Cuban relations?
Some effect, judging from the comments of his brother Raul, the present leader. But as long as Fidel is around things will probably be kept in check. When he dies and Cuba reverts to normalization of relations I doubt much of the revolutionary politics will survive. I don't think you'll hear the folks chanting as they did with Castro "Socialismo o muerte!" Castro's personality has been so critical to the politics of Cuba that the aftermath has to be a big question mark. That is even what I hear from big supporters of Cuba who have spent time there.
Whatever we think of him, he's a beloved figure in much of the 3rd world. He stood up to the Yankees and brought his medical corp to help peasants in Latin America and Africa. I don't think the dictatorship thing will hurt him too much. My guess is most people who think about it fairly will realize that only a committed, charismatic, very bright dictator could have brought Cuba true independence from the northern imperial giant.
Some effect, judging from the comments of his brother Raul, the present leader. But as long as Fidel is around things will probably be kept in check. When he dies and Cuba reverts to normalization of relations I doubt much of the revolutionary politics will survive. I don't think you'll hear the folks chanting as they did with Castro "Socialismo o muerte!" Castro's personality has been so critical to the politics of Cuba that the aftermath has to be a big question mark. That is even what I hear from big supporters of Cuba who have spent time there.
Whatever we think of him, he's a beloved figure in much of the 3rd world. He stood up to the Yankees and brought his medical corp to help peasants in Latin America and Africa. I don't think the dictatorship thing will hurt him too much. My guess is most people who think about it fairly will realize that only a committed, charismatic, very bright dictator could have brought Cuba true independence from the northern imperial giant.
QUOTE(Dingo @ Apr 23 2011, 08:07 PM) 
Whatever we think of him, he's a beloved figure in much of the 3rd world. He stood up to the Yankees and brought his medical corp to help peasants in Latin America and Africa. I don't think the dictatorship thing will hurt him too much. My guess is most people who think about it fairly will realize that only a committed, charismatic, very bright dictator could have brought Cuba true independence from the northern imperial giant.
I never thought I would see those kind of words to describe a dictator, especially the way you heaped them on with such affection.
I believe there will be some fairly fundamental changes coming in the next few years.
QUOTE(Sleeper @ Apr 23 2011, 06:38 PM)
QUOTE(Dingo @ Apr 23 2011, 08:07 PM)
Whatever we think of him, he's a beloved figure in much of the 3rd world. He stood up to the Yankees and brought his medical corp to help peasants in Latin America and Africa. I don't think the dictatorship thing will hurt him too much. My guess is most people who think about it fairly will realize that only a committed, charismatic, very bright dictator could have brought Cuba true independence from the northern imperial giant.
I never thought I would see those kind of words to describe a dictator,
I've never seen an anti-communist dictator conservatives had a problem with because he was a dictator.
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