Latin America Advisor 2022-07-15 – Inter-American Dialogue

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

June 13, 2022

How Likely Is Cuba to See More Protests Against the Gov’t?

One year ago, the largest anti-government protests in decades erupted in Cuba. They resulted in a government crackdown, imprisonments and an exodus of people leaving the island. Protesters are pictured in Havana in July 2021. // File Photo: 14ymedio via Creative Commons.

Q

This month marks one year since Cubans—angered by government authoritarianism, officials’ response to the Covid-19 pandemic, shortages of food and medicine, and the state of the country’s economy—took to the streets in the country’s largest antigovernment protests in decades. The protests led to the imprisonment of hundreds of people and the largest exodus in decades of Cubans leaving for the United States, according to U.S. government figures. What did last year’s protests accomplish? To what extent did the demonstrations lead Cuba’s government to address citizens’ concerns? Is Cuba’s government likely to face more protests any time soon?

A

Paul Webster Hare, senior lecturer at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University and former British ambassador to Cuba: “Last year’s protests accomplished a lot. Those who protested and those who linked up on social media showed they could organize and coordinate without the government’s knowledge. In the past, Cuban government security has infiltrated the opposition and has known exactly how and when to disrupt them. The government reacted largely by using the traditional Castro playbook—that is, to blame the U.S. embargo for economic problems and counter-revolutionaries paid for by the Americans. The pandemic forced Cuba to engage in unusual transparency—to show its people and the world how far its health services and social support mechanisms would meet the challenge. It used medical diplomacy to help countries, such…”

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The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.

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Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
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J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
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Peter Hakim
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Donna Hrinak
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Jon E. Huenemann
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GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
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Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
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Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
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John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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