Cuba 2013

1. Cuba2013 Dr. Fernandez

2. Island Nation

3. Cuba Today

5. People and society, stereotypes

6. People and society

8. People and society

9. Ethnic diversity, Chinese and Japanese

10. People and society: religion

11. Religion and Politics

12. Religion and society

13. People and society

14. People and society

15. People and society

16. People and society

18. People and society

19. People and society

20. People and Society

21. Infrastructure Outside of Habana

22. Sports and Culture

23. History and Culture

24. Morro castle and Cabana

25. Cont’d

26. Cont’d

27. Cont’d

28. Cont’d

29. Economy:Basics • Cuba ranked by CIA as 117/229 in per capita gdp in 2012 • Similar to Thailand and Ecuador. • Estimated about $10,000 in purchasing parity, because much of basic consumption such as food, housing, medicine is subsidized • Wages are low (about $50 a month, on average, so not much for private consumption) • Country’s exports are sugar and derivatives, medical services and tourist services • Cuba faces "massive" problems including a large public debt, dependence on Venezuela, an aging population, decades of brain drain and one of the world's slowest Internet connections

30. Economy and economic reforms

31. Cont’d

32. Cont’d

33. Cont’d: Joint ventures in tourist industry (Spain/Cuba)

34. Cont’d

35. Cont’d: Cuba/Canada nickel refinery

36. Economic Reforms: Cooperatives and Microenterprises

37. Economic Reforms: Cooperatives and Microenterprises

38. Microenterprises: “pensiones and paladares”

40. Challenges with economic reforms • Irregular and diminished payment to foreign companies due to financial downturn after 2008 impact on tourism, raw material exports • Corruption issues • Rule of law is poorly developed, targeting of business by zealous bureaucrats of foreign investors residing on the Island and their Cuban business representatives creates uncertainty • Micro enterprises subject to conflicting and arbitrary regulations (independent cab drivers told can transport someone outside of Habana, but cannot bring anyone back on return trip)

41. Politics

42. Politics

44. Political reforms?? • Similar to China, the CCP seeks to retain political control while carrying our economic reforms, but is instituting some China like reforms • proposed that politicians be limited to two five-year terms in an effort to rejuvenate a political system dominated by aging loyalists of the revolution. This happened in China in 80’s • Behind the scenes, Raul Castro has led an anti-corruption campaign and replaced many of Fidel's confidantes with loyal military officials who earned his trust during his four plus decades as the nation's armed forces chief. • Problem that military is in charge of key state enterprises in tourism, energy sector, construction and other key areas. Raises questions about the limits to economic and political reforms should they threaten the interest of top military ranks.

45. U.S. Cuban Relations • Historically US and Cuba were close allies • Since Cuban Revolution and Cold War there has have been no official state to state diplomatic relations • Cuba is under trade embargo from US. First declared by JFK. Renewed by Helms-Burton • Country is listed on State Department’s list of terrorist states