The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

4 essential reads on dissent in the post-Castro era

  • Written by Catesby Holmes, International Editor | Politics Editor, The Conversation US

Street protests erupted across Cuba on July 11, 2021, with crowds of Cubans demonstrating against food scarcity, medicine shortages and economic misery in their island nation. Some demanded “freedom” and the end of “dictatorship” – anti-government sentiments that were soon echoed in the United States by Cuban-Americans and politicians, including President Joe Biden.

In a televised address, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed the spontaneous demonstrations – by far the largest mass protests in decades – on U.S. interference and threatened a “battle in the streets.” Protesters say hundreds were arrested.

These four stories describe current conditions in Cuba and the recent history behind this rare public outpouring of anger.

2018: Cuba gets a new president

The Communist Party has run Cuba since the 1959 Cuban Revolution.

4 essential reads on dissent in the post-Castro era Fidel Castro in 2010. Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate, CC BY-NC-ND[1][2]

For five decades, its leader was the fiery, anti-American revolutionary Fidel Castro. Castro led the country until 2008, when he fell sick and was succeeded by his more subdued younger brother, Raúl.

The younger Castro, also a Cuban Revolution fighter, maintained the his party’s total grip on politics but liberalized Cuba’s Soviet-style economy, recognizing private property and allowing Cubans to run small businesses. He also cultivated a less antagonistic relationship with the United States during the Obama administration.

Raúl Castro’s April 2018 retirement marked the end of the revolutionary era. But the selection of Díaz-Canel as president in April 2018 seemed unlikely to herald the beginning of a new Cuba.

“I don’t expect any drastic changes in direction from Díaz-Canel – at least, not right away,” wrote the American University Cuba analyst William LeoGrande[3] shortly after Diaz-Canel took office[4].

Díaz-Canel is a seasoned Communist Party insider and Raul Castro’s chosen successor. Castro also remained in Cuba’s government until 2021 as first secretary of the Communist Party, “arguably a post more powerful than the presidency,” says LeoGrande.

Díaz-Canel came into office facing serious problems, including a weak economy and bad relations with the U.S. under then-President Donald Trump.

He also faced a new challenge: the internet, which had just become widely available to everyday Cubans. Access to online information and social media makes it harder for Díaz-Canel to repress dissent as effectively as for his predecessors.

“Internet expansion on the Communist island has produced a growing chorus of domestic critics,” LeoGrande wrote.

Read more: Cuba's new president: What to expect of Miguel Díaz-Canel[5]

2019: Cuba gets a new constitution

Those critics gained more leeway to show their discontent in February 2019, when the Cuban National Assembly passed a new Cuban Constitution[6].

It included provisions that would “substantially expand social, political and economic rights in Cuba,” wrote the Cuban-American scholar María Isabel Alfonso[7].

One of those rights was freedom of assembly.

“Previously, Cubans had the ‘right to meet, demonstrate and associate, for licit and peaceful purposes,’” explained Alfonso, “but only as part of a so-called ‘organización de masa’ – the Cuban term for state-run groups.”

The new constitution removes the ‘organizaciones de masa’ restriction, theoretically giving people and civil society groups more freedom to gather.

But Alfonso cautioned that the government could still crack down on “independent organizations – especially if those groups are political in nature.”

4 essential reads on dissent in the post-Castro era Arrests following an anti-government demonstration in Havana on July 12, 2021. Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images[8]

In her Feburary 2019 article, she quotes the Cuban blogger José Gabriel Barrenechea saying that, in Cuba, “spontaneous gatherings are not seen positively and are always perceived to be the product of a foreign power.”

Among other changes, Cuba’s 2019 Constitution also gave constitutional legitimacy to Raúl Castro’s economic reforms and limited Cuban presidents to two five-year terms.

Read more: Cuba expands rights but rejects radical change in updated constitution[9]

2020: Artists revolt

Cuba’s new Constitution reflects how Díaz-Canel has largely followed his mentor Raúl Castro’s path of gradually giving Cubans greater economic and social freedoms but resisting pressure for democratic reform.

One result of Castro’s 2009 move to legalize small businesses, for example, was a flourishing of activist art.

As galleries and theaters opened across Cuba, enabling artists to show their work in nongovernment-run cultural spaces, “dissident artists took advantage of this newfound freedom to advance their political demands[10],” says Alfonso.

In 2018, the Díaz-Canel government issued a decree imposing restrictions on independent artistic production and cultural venues, angering many artists. Then, in November 2020, the government raided the home of an artist who openly opposed the government’s decree.

Cuban artists and intellectuals rebelled. Days after the raid, about 300 of them convened via WhatsApp to stage a protest outside the Culture Ministry. They demanded negotiations with the government to restore freedom of expression.

4 essential reads on dissent in the post-Castro era Cuban artists regroup after a Nov. 27, 2020, meeting with Cuba’s vice minister of culture. Yamll Lage/AFP via Getty Images[11]

“The negotiations would end soon after they began, followed by a major crackdown on dissent,” wrote Alfonso. But “the size, duration and public nature of the artists’ opposition were unprecedented.”

The artists’ uprising was, she says, “a sign of how resistance in Cuba has grown and changed.”

Read more: Cuba cracks down on artists who demanded creative freedoms after 'unprecedented' government negotiations[12]

2021: The Castro era ends

Raúl Castro stepped down from his top post in the Communist Party in April 2021, leaving behind a changed Cuba[13].

It is no longer a Soviet-backed ideological challenger – or nuclear threat – to the United States. Bereft of international communist patrons and financially isolated from the world by the strict, decades-old U.S. embargo, Cuba is ailing.

For so long the bearded, fatigues-clad Fidel Castro defended the pain of the Cuban people as the righteous struggle of a proudly sovereign nation. Díaz-Canel, born in 1960, lacks Castro’s charismatic ability to invoke the faded revolutionary past.

4 essential reads on dissent in the post-Castro era A counterprotest in support of the Díaz-Canel government in Havana, July 11, 2021. Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images[14]

Ever fewer Cubans even remember those heady post-revolution years, says the Cuba historian Joseph Gonzalez[15].

“Unlike their parents and grandparents, Cubans in their 20s, 30s and 40s never enjoyed a sustained, functional contract with the regime: We provide you a living, and in exchange you give us support, or at least acquiescence.”

Gonzalez says younger generations in Cuba still trust the government to provide free quality health care and education – both achievements of the Castro era.

“But they know it cannot feed, clothe and house its people in any but the most basic way,” he says.

Today Cubans have to hustle to survive; many work two jobs. A recent currency change means cash is scarce and many everyday goods are unaffordable. And after a year keeping the pandemic largely at bay, COVID-19 is surging on the island.

Recent protests suggest some Cubans are sick of so much struggle.

Read more: What's next for Cuba and the United States after Raul Castro's retirement[16]

Editor’s note: This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archives.

Read more https://theconversation.com/cuba-protests-4-essential-reads-on-dissent-in-the-post-castro-era-164456

The Times Features

Australian businesses face uncertainty under new wage theft laws

As Australian businesses brace for the impact of new wage theft laws under The Closing Loopholes Acts, data from Yellow Canary, Australia’s leading payroll audit and compliance p...

Why Staying Safe at Home Is Easier Than You Think

Staying safe at home doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Many people think creating a secure living space is expensive or time-consuming, but that’s far from the truth. By focu...

Lauren’s Journey to a Healthier Life: How Being a Busy Mum and Supportive Wife Helped Her To Lose 51kg with The Lady Shake

For Lauren, the road to better health began with a small and simple but significant decision. As a busy wife and mother, she noticed her husband skipping breakfast and decided ...

How to Manage Debt During Retirement in Australia: Best Practices for Minimising Interest Payments

Managing debt during retirement is a critical step towards ensuring financial stability and peace of mind. Retirees in Australia face unique challenges, such as fixed income st...

hMPV may be spreading in China. Here’s what to know about this virus – and why it’s not cause for alarm

Five years on from the first news of COVID, recent reports[1] of an obscure respiratory virus in China may understandably raise concerns. Chinese authorities first issued warn...

Black Rock is a popular beachside suburb

Black Rock is indeed a popular beachside suburb, located in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It’s known for its stunning beaches, particularly Half M...

Times Magazine

Lessons from the Past: Historical Maritime Disasters and Their Influence on Modern Safety Regulations

Maritime history is filled with tales of bravery, innovation, and, unfortunately, tragedy. These historical disasters serve as stark reminders of the challenges posed by the seas and have driven significant advancements in maritime safety regulat...

What workers really think about workplace AI assistants

Imagine starting your workday with an AI assistant that not only helps you write emails[1] but also tracks your productivity[2], suggests breathing exercises[3], monitors your mood and stress levels[4] and summarises meetings[5]. This is not a f...

Aussies, Clear Out Old Phones –Turn Them into Cash Now!

Still, holding onto that old phone in your drawer? You’re not alone. Upgrading to the latest iPhone is exciting, but figuring out what to do with the old one can be a hassle. The good news? Your old iPhone isn’t just sitting there it’s potential ca...

Rain or Shine: Why Promotional Umbrellas Are a Must-Have for Aussie Brands

In Australia, where the weather can swing from scorching sun to sudden downpours, promotional umbrellas are more than just handy—they’re marketing gold. We specialise in providing wholesale custom umbrellas that combine function with branding power. ...

Why Should WACE Students Get a Tutor?

The Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) is completed by thousands of students in West Australia every year. Each year, the pressure increases for students to perform. Student anxiety is at an all time high so students are seeking suppo...

What Are the Risks of Hiring a Private Investigator

I’m a private investigator based in Melbourne, Australia. Being a Melbourne Pi always brings interesting clients throughout Melbourne. Many of these clients always ask me what the risks are of hiring a private investigator.  Legal Risks One of the ...

LayBy Shopping