Are Improved Economic and Political Relations in the Near Future for Cuba and the United States?

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In the aftermath of the global financial crises, Cuba has struggled between its Communist ideology and the need to craft a sustainable economy. Hard hit by the food shortages and increased oil prices and a sobering national debt of $20 billion, President Raul Castro, has made some radical economic and political reforms, all of which point toward a more market based economy and a more democratic government.
Some critics have balked at the depth and scope of the economic reforms implemented by President Castro, wondering whether they will lead to nationwide unrest and protest as citizens make the transition from government funded payrolls to a more market based economy. The reforms include cutting more than 1 million workers from unemployment benefits. The expectation is that those persons cut from unemployment will find jobs as private farmers or in small start-up businesses. Currently the state employs 85 %of the 5 million people in the Cuban workforce.

Additional economic reforms include measures to end state administration of companies in favor of regulation through taxation. The hope is that this will increase foreign investment in “special economic zones.” Additionally, the state has relinquished state land to more than 140,000 small farmers to grow and sell their produce in small roadside kiosks, a practice that would not have been allowed more than a year ago. The government has also issued roughly 200,000 self-employment licenses, resulting in the crop up of small business along Cuban city streets.

Although these seemingly democratic and market based reforms have been made, critics contend that the intent behind them is convoluted. President Castro himself said these reforms were made to ensure the very survival of the “revolution” and a Communist ideology. Whether these reforms will actually allow a Communist ideology to persist, or usher in a new political and economic era for Cuba is yet to be seen. Whatever the result, the outcome will undoubtedly play a role in U.S.-Cuban relations, which have remained strained since the Cold War.

However, independent of this outcome, or perhaps in response to the promise of a less strained relationship between itself and Cuba, President Barack Obama, has made reforms toward making the trade embargo on Cuba more lenient. Last year, the United States exported roughly $366 million in food to Cuba, making Cuba the fourth largest source of United States food exports and comprising a third of Cuba’s annual imports. Additionally 70,000 United States citizens are now allowed to enter Cuba for “educational or charity purposes.” However despite the more relaxed political and economic reforms made by both sides, the formation of a healthy and well-meaning relationship between the two countries is still a ways off.

This is perhaps best demonstrated by the recent arrest and conviction of US aid worker Alan Gross. Gross entered Cuba under the more lenient reforms allowing US citizens to travel to Cuba for “educational and charity purposes.” Barely able to speak Spanish himself Gross went to Cuba on behalf of his employer, Development Alternatives, which had won a $6 million government contract to “promote democracy in Cuba.” Most of his work consisted of distributing computers and satellite equipment to Cuba’s Jewish community. He was found guilty by the Cuban court of working on a subversive United States’ project to undermine the country’s communist system. The result has caused United States’ diplomats to issue a warning to Cuba, stating that bilateral relations will not improve while Gross is detained. Whether the more lenient reforms made by both countries towards each other will actually lead to improved relations, or to more episodes for contention, as demonstrated by the Alan Gross situation, is yet to be seen.