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Therefore, for the international scene to actually consider that change is taking place in Cuba none of Fidel Castro's men should be part of the government or the administration.
In trying to establish an ascendant trend for the Cuban national and international image, Raul Castro must also deal with the issue of totalitarian rule and that of the state authoritarian leadership in a different manner that one which destroys his authority as state ruler. However, any such measures must include a combination of the implementation of slow democratic measures, and the maintenance of a certain authority especially from the perspective of any political forces that may rise against the system. This is part of the model implemented in China, whose aim was precisely that of controlling the political power while being committed to opening up to foreign investments and western influence.
The international reaction to the rise of Raul Castro to power must be seen from the perspective of the U.S., first and foremost. In this sense, the American attitude towards the change in Cuba can be labeled as being ambiguous in the least. More precisely, "led by Bush, a chorus of officials expressed hope that Castro's departure would spark fundamental change for the Cuban people. They also said they doubted that would happen under Raul Castro and said there was little chance the nearly 50-year-old U.S. embargo on Cuba would be lifted" (CBS, 2008). It can be said from this point-of-view that the U.S., no matter the possible changes that may occur in the Cuban political structure, there is little hope for any reconsideration of the relations between the two neighboring countries. This is largely due to the fact that Cuba, despite the change in the name of its ruler, is still perceived as being part of the communist tradition of rule.
Other reactions on the international scene also include Germany, a leading European country and one which has faced totalitarian rule for a considerable part of its history. However, at the moment, German President Horst Koehler officially affirmed his confidence in the new Cuban leader. In this sense, he "sent Raul Castro a congratulatory telegram in which he said his accession to power raised "high expectations at home and abroad. I wish you luck in using this chance for changes in a dialogue with all parts of society. The necessary economic and political reforms,...
Therefore, the European perspective on the Cuban future is more positive than the American one; this may be the result of the different styles of foreign politics the U.S. And the European Union advocate; while the U.S. advocates hard power, the EU support soft power approaches.
Overall, it can be said that the future of Cuba is rather debatable. On the one hand, there is the internal perspective one must analyze, one which includes Raul's position on the political scene, the problem of democracy, as well as the needed reforms inside the society. On the other hand, the international scene is rather skeptical, while the U.S. does not consider the Raul Castro regime to be capable of change, the EU hopes for that change.
Bibliography
CBS. U.S.: Raul Castro a "Fidel Lite" Ailing Communist Leader Resigns Post; Fidel's 76-Year-old Brother, Raul, the Heir Apparent. 2008. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/19/world/main3843492.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_3843492
Ratliff, William. Raul, China, and Post-Fidel Cuba. Raul Castro will likely implement Chinese-style, market-oriented economic reforms. 2006. 10 March 2008 http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/app/article.aspx?id=369
Shlaes, Amity. "Cuba Crisis is Avoidable if Bush Can Copy Poppy." Bloomberg. 2008. http://www.cfr.org/publication/15543/cuba_crisis_is_avoidable_if_bush_can_copy_poppy.html?breadcrumb=%2Fregion%2F213%2Fcuba
Sweig, Julia E. "Fidel's Final Victory." Foreign Affairs. 2007. http://www.cfr.org/publication/12362/
Teslik, Lee Hudson. "Cuba Eyes a Chinese Model." Council on Foreign Relations. 2007. 10 March 2008. http://www.cfr.org/publication/12677/cuba_eyes_a_chinese_model.html?breadcrumb=%2F
The Associated Press. "German president urges Raul Castro to seize 'chance for changes' as Cuban leader." The Herald Tribune. 2008. 10 March 2008 http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/28/europe/EU-GEN-Germany-Cuba.php
University of Miami. "The nightmare scenario." The Cuban Triangle. 2007. http://cubantriangle.blogspot.com/2007/08/nightmare-scenario.html
Welch, Richard E. Response to Revolution: The United States and the Cuban Revolution, 1959-1961. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1985
Bibliography
CBS. U.S.: Raul Castro a "Fidel Lite" Ailing Communist Leader Resigns Post; Fidel's 76-Year-old Brother, Raul, the Heir Apparent. 2008. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/19/world/main3843492.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_3843492
Ratliff, William. Raul, China, and Post-Fidel Cuba. Raul Castro will likely implement Chinese-style, market-oriented economic reforms. 2006. 10 March 2008 http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/app/article.aspx?id=369
Shlaes, Amity. "Cuba Crisis is Avoidable if Bush Can Copy Poppy." Bloomberg. 2008. http://www.cfr.org/publication/15543/cuba_crisis_is_avoidable_if_bush_can_copy_poppy.html?breadcrumb=%2Fregion%2F213%2Fcuba
Sweig, Julia E. "Fidel's Final Victory." Foreign Affairs. 2007. http://www.cfr.org/publication/12362/
Teslik, Lee Hudson. "Cuba Eyes a Chinese Model." Council on Foreign Relations. 2007. 10 March 2008. http://www.cfr.org/publication/12677/cuba_eyes_a_chinese_model.html?breadcrumb=%2F
The Associated Press. "German president urges Raul Castro to seize 'chance for changes' as Cuban leader." The Herald Tribune. 2008. 10 March 2008 http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/28/europe/EU-GEN-Germany-Cuba.php
University of Miami. "The nightmare scenario." The Cuban Triangle. 2007. http://cubantriangle.blogspot.com/2007/08/nightmare-scenario.html
Those officials who did look at the question of Japanese intentions decided that Japan would never attack, because to do so would be irrational. Yet what might seem irrational to one country may seem perfectly logical to another country that has different goals, values, and traditions. (Kessler 98) The failures apparent in the onset of World War II and during the course of the war led indirectly to the creation
Revolution of 1958 inevitable? Cuba. This island is known everywhere in the world. Everybody knows such names as Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Also Cuba is associated with Caribbean crisis, which had frightened both the U.S.A. And USSR. That's all that common person knows about this land and nation famous for specific culture and interesting history (especially of the 20th century). Cuba has always been a region of American interests
Efficacy and Quality of Cuba's Educational Program Tensions continue to wax and wane between the two countries, but Cuba's economy has largely stabilized and the situation between Castro's country and the United States is also essentially at an impasse (Suddath 2009). The increased stabilization of the Cuban economy and society has led to many internal changes in the country, however, and these have largely been to the benefit of Cuba and
Cuba's Future After Fidel Castro There are many schools of thought when considering the future of Cuba without its leader Fidel Castro. Many think that Cuba is on the cusp of greatness while others warn of coming doom. It can be difficult envisioning the true Cuba from an Americanized point-of-view. Many Americans cannot understand a socialist framework where everyone is treated equal because America is the land of unique opportunity and
Leftist leaders preach a sermon of economic equality, of providing the "little man" with the ability to live the same life as the doctor or engineer - because though he may have less education, his contribution to society in terms of labor (particularly manual labor) is more significant, challenging, and sacrificial than the practice of medicine or law. The sugar-cane farmers and rum producers, the tobacco growers and the
..." Quirk is noted to have said that: "Many times in later years Castro spoke of his ignorance as a university student. He admitted to being a 'political illiterate' and had studied law, he said, not because he felt an attraction to the legal profession but because his family expected it." (Quirk; as cited by Escobar, 2004) Fidel Castro became involved in political activism and became a widely renowned orator