Cuban economy

Role of the FAR in the Cuban Economy [Updated]

November 10, 2009

The November-December 2009 issue of Military Review has a piece on the Revolutionary Armed Forces’ direct participation in the Cuban economy entitled: “Revolutionary Management: The Role of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias in the Cuban Economy,” where my study “Soldiers and Businessmen: The FAR During the Special Period” is cited. Issues covered in the article, which [...]

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Militarization of governance

March 7, 2009

The stark reality of Monday’s purge was not solely to streamline government structure for efficiency, but in fact, it was also Army General Raul Castro’s mission to rid himself the remnants of Fidel Castro’s loyalists. The Commander-in Chief (CINC) of the militarized island nation now exercises complete control of the regime’s levers of power — [...]

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Prospects for change

December 18, 2008

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is hosting a five-part series on Cuba. The first presentation took place on October 17, titled: “Cuba Outlook: Raul in Power- What to expect,” which focused on the early steps taken by Ra

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Castro looks for a U.S. lifeline

September 22, 2008

By Mary Anastasia O’Grady | Wall Street Journal Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike inflicted misery on millions of Cubans. But when the Castro dictatorship looks at the devastation, it sees opportunity. Fidel Castro and his brother Ra

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Cuba After Fidel

March 5, 2008

Stratfor’s Global Market Brief assesses Cuba’s future economic reforms, which will be slow paced. Some snippets of the brief: Meanwhile, the Cuban economy faces significant problems. Its black market is growing significantly. Inequality is on the rise, along with corruption and crime. Its agricultural output is in decline and its industry inefficient. Though Cuba is [...]

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Will Cuba Become a Global Ethanol Player?

February 20, 2008

Wired explores Cuba’s potential as an ethanol player post-Fidel: Fidel Castro hates ethanol. He thinks it punishes the poor by driving up food prices. But Cuba produces a lot of sugar, and with Fidel’s brother Raul — a fan of biofuels — calling the shots (at least for the time being), Cuba could become a [...]

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