Democratic Changes in the Cuban Government essays

Democratic Changes in the Cuban Government essays When Fidel Castro announced he was temporarily relinquishing power due to his illness, people began to debate the possibility of democratic changes in a post-Castro Cuba. While reports circulate that the ailing Castro is recovering, speculations about significant changes in Cuba continue. This paper argues that despite Castro's preparations, changes in the Cuban government are inevitable, in the event of Castro's death. The loss of Castro would mean that the government would have to make further changes to accommodate democratic reform. In contrast to majority opinions, any reports consider the possibility that the Communist government would retain its Marxist-Leninist identity. After all, reports like "Cuba After Castro" (2006) point out that the dictator had been in power for the past 47 years. This means that almost two generations of Cubans grew up accepting the idea that a communist government is a norm. Also, in contrast to the criticisms of Cuban-American immigrants in Miami, Castro remains a respected father figure in many parts of the island. Furthermore, they point out that the government structure extends beyond the figurehead of Fidel Castro. Those who equate Castro with the Cuban government ignore the existence of the Communist Party elite which holds the government together. If, as some analysts point out, the Communist elite can weather the period of transition in the event of Castro's death, the changes in government structure and policy would be minimal, and Communists will still retain power ("Cuba After Castro" 2006). Finally, those who argue for the possibility of a Communist, post-Castro Cuba also point out that mass support is necessary for any significant changes to occur. The chances of such mass uprisings, however, are lessened by the government's tight stranglehold on the Cuban media. This censorship against "U.S. influence" and "capitalist advertising" works in the government's favor, giving...