CONTINUING REVOLUTION & CONTEMPORARY CONTRADICTIONS

James Petras (a retired Bartle Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Binghamton University, SUNY) analyzes from a Marxist perspective the pressing problems (from agricultural production to housing) facing the post-Fidel government of Cuba headed by successor Army General Raul Castro.

Among his points:

Cuba’s agricultural production is directed, in large part, toward the tourist and export market: tobacco, citrus, tropical fruit, sugar (barely); much of the quality fruit, meat, produce and poultry is sold in the private ‘farmers’ markets, or in the special stores which trade in dollars or ‘convertible’ currency. As a result, there is a scarcity of products at the state-subsidized neighborhood stores. The development of ‘urban gardens’ has been one solution for certain neighborhoods – providing fresh quality ‘organic’ produce – but fail to cover much of the
population’s needs.

[...]

While Cuba has effectively channeled large-scale capital investments into tourism, biotechnology and other productive sectors, it has neglected its housing sector creating a 10-year waiting list for over a million families. The housing deficit is one of the major sources of discontent among the Cuban people, even among its mid-level party and government officials, who have to live with their in-laws. In addition, current housing is in great disrepair, especially pronounced in Central ‘Old’ Havana, where even low cost paint and plaster could re-vitalize working class neighborhoods – now so badly deteriorated.

[...]

Low wages, weak motivation, lack of work discipline, low productivity is a cycle that has affected services, manufacturing and agricultures in a vicious cycle, which can be converted into a virtuous cycle. Over the past three years, wages were unfrozen after almost two decades and some relatively substantial increases were granted. Yet relative to the substantial increases in charges for home electricity use, food (a substantial proportion of which is purchased in the ‘free’ market), clothing and other necessities, the pay increases are below what is necessary to stimulate
greater productivity.

Full text, click here.

(H/T: La Nueva Cuba)

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