Jorge Dominguez is a retired Harvard University professor emeritus who focuses on international and domestic politics across Latin America. Speaking with Readara on his book The Cuban Economy in a New Era: An Agenda for Change Toward Durable Development, Jorge Dominguez drew attention to the reason why, despite the emergence of a vibrant underground imported goods sector that supports hospitality and tourism, the Cuban government is reluctant to further open itself up to imports. A major reason has to do with a deeply ingrained sense that doing so might make the country vulnerable to pressure from the U.S. government. Raul Castro, who recently stepped down from the presidency, is 87 years old and still has a mindset forged in the 1950s at the height of the Cold War. Even with Miguel Diaz-Canel at the helm, a leader more receptive to foreign direct investment, several members of the Council of State still are in their 70s and 80s. Afraid to loosen their grip, these leaders have not made enough systemic changes to bring Cuba's economy into the 21st century. The rest of the country has been waiting patiently for the past two decades for them to eventually retire from office, such that new ideas can be implemented that will boost one of the world's poorest economies and allow substantial investment and an inflow of imports.
0 Comments
|
AuthorJorge Dominguez - Doctor of Political Science. Archives
November 2021
Categories |