La world now terrorised by the forces of the capitalist market, backed up by the threat or reality of brute force. Socialist Outlook explores five flashpoints which underline the need for internationalism and solidarity.
investment into selected enterprises, as many as 60 percent of the stateA BRITISH tobacco run factories are currently unprofitable, raising the combine, BAT, is the spectre of massive redunfirst foreign cigarette. dancies - and much manufacturer to re- greater external influence sume business in Cuba in a restructured econsince the industry was omy. nationalised by Fidel Castro's government has also been forced into castro. other economic retreats The company will take which are creating seriover the run-down CriolNous tensions in Cuba, the los factory in Havana, most serious of which where the most modern was legalising use of the equipment dates back to dollar two years ago. the 1940s. Now Cuban society is Other sectors of Cuban divided between those in industry and infrastruc- economic sectors which ture are also being give them access to dolopened up to investment lars and the goods and from multinational capital services they can buy - inas the embattled Cuban cluding petrol - and economy struggles for those having only the insurvival against ruthless creasingly worthless CuUS economic blockade. ban currency.
Although there are re- Reforms to permit free strictions on external inmarkets for small farmers vestment, and most joint have effectively demolventures are restricted to ished the state system of a 50-50 share with the agriculture, and are also state, the Cuban share is leading to sharp social direpresented by top armed visions as farmers coin in forces officers or top funchandsome profits, some tionaries, opening up the of it for dollars. prospect of personal en- It is estimated that just richment in what has 15 percent of the Cuban been one of the most population stands to beneegalitarian societies. fit from the current ecoOne advantage in the nomic reforms, while the eyes of external investors vast majority face a worsis that (as in China and Viening of living standards. etnam) free trade unions Unfortunately Fidel are still banned in Cuba, Castro is still standing leaving workers vulner- firm against any relaxaable to high levels of ex- tion of the rigid prohibiploitation.
tion on opposition The potential difficul- political parties, any freeties being stored up by dom of the press or any this economic policy are independent trade union worsened by the fact that organisation. as imperialist capital injects new technology and He is hoping to manoeuvre with sections of capital to gain more time, though for what is not clear.
Most socialists would argue that Castro's repression is simply bottling up problems and denying the Cuban people a voice on the crisis they face. The real danger is that the banner of democracy can be stolen by the US and other reactionar-. ies seeking a restoration of capitalism in Cuba.
The fight to defend the Cuban revolution demands a renewed campaign against the US economic blockade, which was condemned last October by the UN General Assembly. 101 countries voted against, with just the USA and Israel supporting the policy which has denied vital supplies of medicines and other goods to the Cuban people.
Castro's recent visit to France is connected with Cuban pressure on the European Union to take the lead in reopening economic links in defiance of the USA. The signs so far are not promising. The French oil giant Total recently withdrew from a major investment plan in Cuba, buckling under US threats. A statement of EU policy is due soon.
Fringe meetings at many union conferences this year will again promote solidarity with the Cuban revolution. Despite our political criticisms of the Castro regime, socialists should support this effort.