Cuba

[Kitskits]

I don't really know much so it won't be an indepth conversation from my part so I guess this would not fit into the politics section, correct me if I am wrong.

So, everyone. What's your opinion on Cuba's governmental, economic, social system etc. Do you think it's very bureaucratic? You think that economically they are revisionist or that they try to recover and then continue to follow socialist doctrines? Do you think that after Castro's death there will be an attempt to over-bureaucratize Cuba by right-wingers inside the party so that they will restore capitalism? The people have a voice or the battle is pre-determined for the bureaucracy/right wing to win?

[More Fire for the People]

Cuba is not communist for this one glaring fact: there is class conflict. There is an antagonism between the retrograde mandarins of the bureaucracy and the progressive proletarian and peasant masses (including proletarian cadres). The mandarin class seeks to formalize the organizational structure of Cuba in a bureaucratic manner so that they can reap the benefits of state-capitalism and, hence, become a new capitalist class. The cadres and proletarians and peasants masses are resisting this retrograde movement, represented by Raul Castro and his clique, with loyalty and fidelity to the CDRs and political expression through hip hop & traditional Cuban music.

Fidel Castro represents a third type: neither mandarin nor cadre but a mediator. He is more cadre than anything but rather than intensify the antagonism between the mandarins and the masses he pursues a policy of reconciliation and class peace. This position has, in my view, two origins: (1) Cuba’s extreme isolation and limitations as an island and (2) the political onslaught from the United States. Under such conditions any open class antagonism could and would be manipulated by the United States in order to install a backwards regime. Hence, when these factors were less strong in the 50s and 60s we saw more open and direct conflict between the workers and the capitalists and the workers and the mandarins.

What happens when Fidel dies or resigns? If Raul Castro maintains power his clique will institute economic and political reforms that will win the battle in favor of state-capitalism. However, another world is possible. If the CDRs work to their maximum against the mandarins and for socialism then its possible that Raul will be defeated and that the proletarians and peasants will smash the mandarin clique and further the struggle towards socialism.