Cuba Moves Under US Pressure

Cuba Moves Under US Pressure

Cuba’s president went on television last week to announce profound changes in the economy. Cuba formally remains a communist country, although it is not one Karl Marx would recognize. Nor is it especially unique among self-described communist countries. Cuba is dominated by the army, which serves three purposes: to provide national defense, to maintain dictatorial order and to operate the Cuban economy. (In many ways, the army is the Cuban econo…

Cuba Moves Toward Market Economy as Government Unveils Historic Reforms

Cuba has announced sweeping economic changes that, despite constitutional guarantees of socialism, introduce measures commonly associated with capitalism. The reforms come amid mounting economic pressure and, according to observers, reflect not only longstanding U.S. demands but also encouragement from Russia and China. The island's economic situation has deteriorated sharply, prompting the Communist leadership to launch what many compare to the…