"Raúl's Cuba: Domestic and International Challenges"

Cuba's President Raúl Castro Ruz (L), next to vice presidents (L-R)
Juan Almeida Bosque, José Ramón Machado Ventura and Abelardo Colomé Ibarra
Foto/Reuters


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"Raúl's Cuba: Domestic and International Challenges"

Lecture by Marifeli Pérez-Stable Professor of Sociology, FIU and
Vice President for Democratic Governance, IAD Thursday, April 3, 2008

4:15 pm - C103 Hesburgh Center

Kellogg Institute for International Studies
University of Notre Dame, In

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Abstract: In February 2008, Raúl Castro assumed the presidencies of the Cuban councils of state and ministries, choosing hard-liner José Ramón Machado Ventura as first vice president of both councils. In his inaugural speech, Raúl announced a restructuring of the state administration, hinted at economic reforms, and said he would delay naming ministers until the end of 2008.

Internationally, Cuba enjoys the most auspicious ambience since the end of the Cold War. The new populism in Latin America gives Cuba more friends than the old strategy of promoting revolution did; Venezuela supplies the country with oil. Cuba has close ties with Iran, Russia, Vietnam, and China. For the time being, Spain, the European Union, Mexico, and Brazil give Raúl the benefit of the doubt; only the United States continues to follow a policy of embargo and isolation.

Raúl’s principal domestic challenges are to maintain political control and improve living standards. His international obstacles include improving relations with the US, and maintaining positive relations with Hugo Chávez, while lessening Cuban dependence on Venezuelan oil. (Full text)