2008 Woodie Awards
Crossing Borders: Faculty Explain Cuba
Zana Fejzik
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News
After ruling Cuba for nearly 50 years, Fidel Castro's position is only being passed down to his brother, Raul Castro. The 76-year old Raul Castro was named the name President of Cuba on Sunday, February 24th as the 77-year old revolutionary leader Jose Ramon Machado was assured the number two spot as ruler.
Cubans feel there will be some change in economy since Raul has been heard sparking debate about the workforce issue. However, to those looking in from the outside, many predict there will be no change. Although Raul is now the new official leader of Cuba, he has announced that Fidel will play a major part in any decisions he makes about the country.
The U.S. has been openly critical of the Castro family, calling it a "transfer of authority and power from dictator to dictator light."
In an interview with Paolo Spadoni, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at Rollins College, topics from foreign relationships between Venezuela and China to possible tourism in the near future were discussed.
Dr. Spadoni traveled to Cuba for the first time in 1991 and has brought his interest of the North Caribbean country to Rollins.
The most important experience he wishes to pass on to his students is his "field-research experience and genuine interest for a country so close and in so many ways so far from the United States."
One of the biggest issues in Cuba is the fact that a mere $19 a month is not enough to cover a household's basic necessities. Self-employment makes up around 3% of Cuba's work force. Many need to take up a second job to help make ends meet and are hoping for any slight change in economy, wondering why Cuba cannot be the communist country China is where the market pretty much rules the economy.
Although it is still unsure about whether or not Cuba's policy will change towards issues such as self-employment, Dr. Spadoni believes it is "most likely measures in the short-run are reforms in the agricultural sector, more foreign investment, more managerial autonomy in state firms, and more material incentives for Cuban workers."
Cubans feel there will be some change in economy since Raul has been heard sparking debate about the workforce issue. However, to those looking in from the outside, many predict there will be no change. Although Raul is now the new official leader of Cuba, he has announced that Fidel will play a major part in any decisions he makes about the country.
The U.S. has been openly critical of the Castro family, calling it a "transfer of authority and power from dictator to dictator light."
In an interview with Paolo Spadoni, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at Rollins College, topics from foreign relationships between Venezuela and China to possible tourism in the near future were discussed.
Dr. Spadoni traveled to Cuba for the first time in 1991 and has brought his interest of the North Caribbean country to Rollins.
The most important experience he wishes to pass on to his students is his "field-research experience and genuine interest for a country so close and in so many ways so far from the United States."
One of the biggest issues in Cuba is the fact that a mere $19 a month is not enough to cover a household's basic necessities. Self-employment makes up around 3% of Cuba's work force. Many need to take up a second job to help make ends meet and are hoping for any slight change in economy, wondering why Cuba cannot be the communist country China is where the market pretty much rules the economy.
Although it is still unsure about whether or not Cuba's policy will change towards issues such as self-employment, Dr. Spadoni believes it is "most likely measures in the short-run are reforms in the agricultural sector, more foreign investment, more managerial autonomy in state firms, and more material incentives for Cuban workers."
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