I need several reasons why Cuba failed as a political democracy-also, why has the Cuban Revolution failed to make Cuba economically prosperous. This is for an essay
These sites should start you on your research.
http://www.newhumanist.com/geiser.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba
To understand the reasons why Cuba failed as a political democracy and why the Cuban Revolution failed to make Cuba economically prosperous, we need to examine historical, political, and economic factors. Here are several reasons for each aspect:
Reasons for Cuba's Failure as a Political Democracy:
1. One-party system: Since the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Cuba has been under the rule of a single party, the Communist Party of Cuba. The lack of political pluralism led to limited political competition, which undermined the principles of a multiparty democracy.
2. Suppression of opposition: The Cuban government has a history of suppressing political dissent and opposition. This includes censorship of media, restriction of freedom of speech, and limited space for political diversity, hindering the development of a vibrant democracy.
3. Lack of democratic institutions: Cuba's political system is characterized by limited checks and balances, separation of powers, and an independent judiciary. This lack of institutional frameworks weakened the democratic accountability of the government.
4. Emphasis on revolutionary ideology: The Cuban government has prioritized revolutionary ideology over democratic principles. This has resulted in centralized decision-making, restricted civil liberties, and limited citizen participation in political processes.
5. US embargo: The economic embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba since 1960 has had significant political ramifications. The embargo strengthened the Cuban government's narrative of external aggression, leading to a more repressive regime and hindering democratic reforms.
Reasons for the Failure of the Cuban Revolution to Achieve Economic Prosperity:
1. Command economy: After the Cuban Revolution, Cuba adopted a planned, centralized economy with state control over most economic sectors. This command economy model is known for its inefficiency, lack of innovation, and inability to adapt to market dynamics, resulting in economic stagnation.
2. Lack of economic diversification: Cuba heavily relied on its sugar industry, which suffered from declining global prices and competition. The lack of diversification in the economy left it vulnerable and unable to adapt to changing global economic conditions.
3. Mismanagement and inefficiency: Cuba experienced significant mismanagement of its economic resources, including a lack of investment, corruption, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. These factors hindered productivity, innovation, and competitiveness, leading to economic underperformance.
4. External factors: The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 had a severe impact on Cuba's economy. Cuba lost its main trading partner and source of economic aid, which caused a deep economic crisis known as the "Special Period." The loss of support from the Soviet bloc exacerbated Cuba's struggle for economic prosperity.
5. Limited market reforms: While Cuba has implemented some limited market-oriented reforms in recent years, such as allowing small-scale private businesses, they have been insufficient to create a thriving entrepreneurial sector and attract foreign investment. The slow pace of economic reforms has hindered Cuba's ability to achieve sustainable economic prosperity.
These are some of the key reasons why Cuba failed as a political democracy and why the Cuban Revolution has not been able to make Cuba economically prosperous. For your essay, make sure to provide evidence and examples to support each point and consider discussing counterarguments or alternative viewpoints to provide a comprehensive analysis.