Cuba: Continuing Revolution and Contemporary Contradictions
James Petras and Robin Eastman-Abaya
Special to Canadian Dimension, August 12, 2007
The Cuban revolution with its socialist economy has demonstrated tremendous resilience in the face of enormous political obstacles and challenges.
- It successfully defied a US orchestrated invasion,
- naval blockade,
- hundreds of terrorists’ attacks and
- half-century boycott.(1)
- Cuba was able to withstand the fallout from the collapse of the USSR,
- the Eastern European collectivist regimes,
- China and Indo-China’s transit to capitalism
- and to construct a new development model.
As many scholars and political leaders – including adversaries – have noted, Cuba has developed a very advanced and functioning social welfare program:
- free, universal, quality health coverage and
- free education from kindergarten through advanced university education.(2)
In foreign, as well as domestic, policy Cuba has successfully developed economic and diplomatic relations with the entire globe, despite US boycotts and pressures. (3)
In questions of national and personal security, Cuba is a world leader.
- Crime rates are low and
- violent offenses are rare.
- Terrorist threats and acts, (most emanating from the US and its Cuban exile proxies), have declined and
- are less a danger to the Cuban population than to the US or Europe.
* * * * *
All this and:
- Hugo Chavez, Venezuela
- Evo Morales, Bolivia
- Rafael Correa, Ecuador
- Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua
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