Started From the Bottom Now We're Here: Cuba's Way to Reform After Castro

Started From the Bottom Now We're Here: Cuba's Way to Reform

By Kimmy Polefka

       Cuba is on its way to reform after many years under harsh Communist rule. Under the rule of Raul Castro when he took over he is pushing the people, government, and economy through strong reform. This is allowing Cuban life to grow and expand from what the people have ever known under Fidel Castro. Raul Castro is significantly making positive changes on the Cuban economy, and way of life for Cubans.

       Fidel Castro was a leader in Cuba who began the Communist rule. As a Communist involves "equality" for all he put harsh restrictions on Cuban life. They could not go out of the country without a card, people could not expand their businesses, and were in poverty because of barely any foreign connections. Cuba was in dire need of reform and breaking out of its Communist ways. When Fidel Castro turned over his power to his younger brother Raul, Cuba started to change for the better ("Briefing Fidel Castro"). 

       The Cuban economy is starting to slowly getting better little by little. Since Cuba is starting to reconnect with other countries such as the United States their economy has started to produce more money (Sweig). This allows Cubans to also buy foreign imports. Raul has also allowed for the vast lands of Cuba to be sold for farmers farm on now (Burbach). Now more Cubans are becoming more self-employed. This allows for the economy to expand and new businesses to grow. 

       The way of life for Cubans has significantly improved.  Now Cubans are allowed to leave the country more easily. They can visit outside family, and send money to them. Since big businesses have been receiving most of the money, now smaller businesses can expand to all around Cuba. Also they can sell their produces out of the country now, which allows them to have better connections with the outside world. This allows Cubans to feel a better sense of freedom which many have probably not felt in awhile.

        All in all Raul Castro making these positive changes on Cuba will greatly help the country in the long run. Cubans will be more happier living there, and other foreign countries will be happier to be associated with the country. As many countries do not want to be associated with a Communist country. Cuba is slowly rebuilding but over the next few years will take leaps and strides from where it was.  

   

Works Cited

“Briefing Fidel Castro.” The Economist, vol. 421, no. 9081, 3 Dec. 2016, pp. 18-20.

Burbach, Roger. “A Cuban Spring?” NACLA Report on the Americas, vol. 46, no. 1, Spring 2013, pp. 10-12. MasterFILE Premier. Accessed 15 May 2017.

Sweig, Julia E., and Michael J. Bustamante. “Cuba After Communism.” Forgein Affairs, July 2013, www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/cuba/2013-06-11/cuba-after-communism. Accessed 19 May 2017.