Ron Ridenour CUBA: BEYOND THE CROSSROADS Socialist Resistance, London Socialist Resistance would be glad to have readers’ opinions of this book, its design and translations, and any suggestions you may have for future publications or wider distribution. Socialist Resistance books are available at special quantity discounts to educational and non-profit organizations, and to bookstores. To contact us, please write to: Socialist Resistance, PO Box 1109, London, N4 2UU, Britain or email us at:
[email protected] or visit our website at: www.socialistresistance.net iv Set in 11pt Joanna Designed by Ed Fredenburgh Published by Socialist Resistance (second edition, revised April 2007) Printed in Britain by Lightning Source ISBN 0-902869-95-0 EAN 9 780902 869950 © Ron Ridenour, 2007 Readers are encouraged to visit www.ronridenour.com To contact the author, please email
[email protected] Contents Introduction vii Preface viii 1 Return to Cuba 1 2 Comparing Living Standards 5 3 Tenacious Survival 12 4 The Blockade Squeeze 17 5 Enemies of the State 21 6 The Battle for Food 26 7 Life on the Farm 31 8 Feeding a Nation 35 9 From Farm to Table 39 v 10 On the Market 44 11 A Farewell to Farms 48 12 Health for All 51 13 Education for All 55 14 Exporting Human Capital 60 15 Media Openings 65 16 Cultural Rectification 69 17 Revolutionary Morality 73 18 The Big Challenge; forging communist consciousness 78 19 Fidel Leadership 82 20 Me and Fidel 89 21 Leadership after Fidel 93 22 Beyond the Crossroads 102 CUBA: TENAZ PALMA REAL 108 CUBA: TENACIOUS ROYAL PALM 109 Acknowledgements I wish to thank “Morning Star” features editor Richard Bagley for his excellent editing of my 2006 series on Cuba today.