Cuba

Comment: Of Revolution, not a trace

Obama pushes the pace, Castro hit the brakes. The normalization of relations between Cuba and the USA, will take longer than many want it, says Astrid Prange.

It is almost too good to be true: At the Revolution square in Havana, the American national anthem rings and US President Barack Obama and Cuban head of state Raúl Castro, together with the military parade.

None of the two politicians would have been in his office, only to dream that it would come to such a rapprochement between Cuba and the USA ever. The miracle is accomplished. The ice age between Washington and Havana, belongs to the past, its Remains are reduced to an ideological snow pile, the further and further melts.

However, despite the thaw to Cuban-American spring awakening still take a lot of time. Because the leadership of the Old Revolutionaries in Havana may have ideological baggage discarded, but not the right to claim their political Power.

Shield Embargo

Since the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the Communist party of Cuba is legitimized by its front position in relation to the United States. With the Embargo be justified until today, the economic problems of the country, with the “American threat” of the One-party-domination is legitimized.

DW-author Astrid Prange reported on Latin America

Almost 30 years after the fall of the Berlin wall, the ideological pillars of Cuba are broken-African Revolution. But from the ruins of socialism, not democracy, is grow up after US-American model, but the political pragmatism of former Revolutionaries who are fighting for their political Survival.

Pragmatism instead of ideology

US President Barack Obama has recognized this. He has abandoned Cuba as a symbolic venue for the American military to democracy and human rights. He also has no interest to beat the ideological battles that began before he was even born. Instead, he wants to come with Cuba to do business and the presence of American companies in the country allow, before the Embargo falls.

To Raúl Castro, the difficult political task now to walk the narrow line of political pragmatism. Only he, as a revolutionary of the first hour about the necessary legitimacy within the Communist party of squad for this course.

The times, in which the former Soviet Union agreed to buy its sugar and energy supplied, are over. Also on the solidarity of Venezuela, Havana’s can’t count. Even more important, the relations to the USA: economic Survival depends to a large part of the Remittances from the two million Cubans in Florida.

Until his announced resignation in 2018, not much time remains to him. Castro does not want to lose control over the “normalization” of relations between the U.S. and Cuba. A quick rapprochement between the countries is contrary to his interests. A fraternization of Castro and Obama would probably actually too good to be true.