Question

Explain Cuba’s Special Period and how it caused Castro to sacrifice ideological consistency.

Answer 1

The Cuba’s Special Period in Time of Peace was an extension of economic crisis period in Cuba which started in 1991. It was at maximum severe during the early to mid-1990s before slightly falling in severity towards the decade end. The initial stages of the Special Period were faced with general breakdown in agricultural and transportation sectors, pesticide and fertilizer stocks and widespread shortages of food.

The assertions of Castro’s which stated socialism would live on after the recovery of economy from the Special Period, the reforms allowed the teeth of capitalism to sink further more into a Cuban society that already valued entrepreneurship. In 1993 Castro’s reform policy fostered black marketing activities and commercialism blossomed during the Special Period. Consequently socialism could no longer stand alone as official ideology in Cuba. The socialism ideology was very vital to Castro however failing economy in Cuba demanded a fundamental economic change thus forced Castro to sacrifice ideological consistency.