Raul Castro and the New Cuba: A Close-Up View of Change

In 2006, Fidel Castro yielded power over Cuba to his younger brother Raul, making him the first new president of the island nation in nearly five decades. Since then, Raul has ushered in many changes and reforms, including allowing open criticism of the government, lifting the ban on personal electronics like cell phones and computers, and allowing farmers to purchase their own equipment. This timely work weaves together expert analysis with narrative accounts from current Cuban citizens to explore the economic, political, legal, and social changes occurring in Cuba under Raul Castro's presidency. Among the issues discussed are how Cubans are facing the challenges of an economy emerging from socialism into a market-driven reality, how long the one-party system can endure, and what the future may hold. By tracking Cuba's ongoing emergence from decades of communism, this current work stands at the forefront of Latin American and Caribbean studies.