|
Since 1989, with the dramatic political change in Eastern Europe, the
disintergration of the Soviet Union, and the decline of communism, almost
the whole world is moving towards democracy and human rights. However wit
hin such a drastic change, Cuba and Comminist China maintain their unique
socialist systems.
Communist China insists a 'Socialism with a Chinese special ch
aracter', Cuba also maintain its firm socialism. In the face of the collap
se of world communism, these two countries are able to maintain a socialis
First, both the Chinese and Cuban socialist systems we
re consolidated by a nationalist movement. It was a different case from Easte
rn Europe and the Soviet Union. Therefore, in the face of repid changing
environment, nationalistic sentiment is used to maintain order and
stability. Second, the first generation of revolutionaries
are still in power. The first generation of the Chinese Communist revolut
ionaries are the ghost policy-makers. The first generation of the Cuba
n revolutionaries still hold power. Both these groups strive hard to remai
n in power. Third, both countries use economic refo
rms for national development. National development failed in the Sovie
t Union because political reforms were implemented before economic ones.
However, both Communist China and Cuba employ economic reforms before anyth
ing else to suit world trends. After the Tiananmen Square inc
ident, Communist China strives to stabilize national development by socialis
m. This is due to the fact that capitalism, by which South Korea, Singapor
e and Taiwan have established for national development, can be applicab
le in China to maintain a system of economic prosperity and political s
tability. However the more successful the reform policies are, the less p
ublic-owenership and dictatorship by the Communist Party could be maintaine
d. On the other hand, strengthening socialism would slow down economic dev
elopment. Onlp one option is open: towards national development by capit
alism. Therefore, on the long term viewing, it would be possible for Commu
nist China to make this choice. The policy t
aken by Cuba, facing internal and foreign pressure, is similar to the reform
policies of Communist China: consolidating the socialist system by an incre
ase of economic efficiency. However, with the stance of being the first gen
eration revolutionaries, Castro would not raise the degree of opening up and
reforms as much as that in China. Bu
t, Castro must not ignore the trend of world socislism nowadays, nor the cha
llenge posed by internal opposition. Therefore, it can be predicted that C
uba would adjust their relationships with the U.S in reaction to foreign
pressure. Cuba might to a certain extent opt for a large scale economic refor
ms as influenced by the economic reform policy of Communist China.
|