chebol
5th February 2006, 05:35
Cuba Winning the 'Battle of Ideas'
By Gloria La Riva
January 2006
http://socialismandliberation.org/mag/index.php?aid=543
Cuba is doing more than just surviving the U.S. economic blockade and
the difficult legacy of the post-Soviet era. The Cuban revolution-the
people and its leadership-has been actively engaged in a strategy for
the last six years known as the "Battle of Ideas" to strengthen the
socialist revolution.
Among the latest efforts in the Battle of Ideas is a massive
investment in health, education and cultural development as well as a
revival of socialist economic methods. In addition, there is a major
effort to combat corruption and theft of social property.
Underlying the battle is the Cuban economy's accelerating growth.
This growth has enabled the Cuban state to increase its role in the
economy, for example in socialist norms of distribution, to benefit
the workers as opposed to the small-scale entrepreneurs who gained
immediately following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Revival of socialist methods
Before its destruction in 1991, the Soviet Union provided essential
economic support for the Cuban revolution. After 1991, Cuba was faced
with severe shortages and economic disruptions. In the desperate
struggle for sheer survival, the Cuban leadership was forced to
resort to capitalist-style stimuli of the economy. But President
Fidel Castro and other Cuban Communists always looked forward to the
day when such reforms would cease to be a driving force of economic
development.
That day has come.
Read the rest of the article at: http://socialismandliberation.org/mag/index.php?aid=543
By Gloria La Riva
January 2006
http://socialismandliberation.org/mag/index.php?aid=543
Cuba is doing more than just surviving the U.S. economic blockade and
the difficult legacy of the post-Soviet era. The Cuban revolution-the
people and its leadership-has been actively engaged in a strategy for
the last six years known as the "Battle of Ideas" to strengthen the
socialist revolution.
Among the latest efforts in the Battle of Ideas is a massive
investment in health, education and cultural development as well as a
revival of socialist economic methods. In addition, there is a major
effort to combat corruption and theft of social property.
Underlying the battle is the Cuban economy's accelerating growth.
This growth has enabled the Cuban state to increase its role in the
economy, for example in socialist norms of distribution, to benefit
the workers as opposed to the small-scale entrepreneurs who gained
immediately following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Revival of socialist methods
Before its destruction in 1991, the Soviet Union provided essential
economic support for the Cuban revolution. After 1991, Cuba was faced
with severe shortages and economic disruptions. In the desperate
struggle for sheer survival, the Cuban leadership was forced to
resort to capitalist-style stimuli of the economy. But President
Fidel Castro and other Cuban Communists always looked forward to the
day when such reforms would cease to be a driving force of economic
development.
That day has come.
Read the rest of the article at: http://socialismandliberation.org/mag/index.php?aid=543