The Cuban State and Society

State and Society

The first Cuban constitution was issued in 1940. Later, the 1976 constitution officially declared Cuba a Socialist Republic, though the country was already orientated around this ideology since 1959. The reforms in 1992 reflected the country's adaptation to the new conditions as a result of the fall of the Socialist Block. An example of this was the opening to foreign investment in Cuba's economy.

The highest legislative organ is the National Assembly, whose 589 members are elected every 5 years. The National Assembly elects the 31 members for the State Council. The highest executive power lies within the Council of Ministers. Since 1975, Fidel Castro has been President of the State and Ministers Councils and First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party. Cuba is divided into 14 provinces, subdivided in turn into 169 municipalities along with the special territory of the Isle of Youth. Since the 1970s the local Assemblies were created in provinces and municipalities as main legislative bodies at these levels. Cubans become voters at 18. The leading role of the Communist Party continued unabated after the 1992 reforms, as well as the constitutional and legislative powers in the hands of the National Assembly.

The Cuban army is the third largest in the region, behind the United Sates and Brazilian armies. This is out of proportion in relation to the population's size and remarkably the army is financed by only 6% of the Gross Internal Product. Raúl Castro is the Minister of the Armed Forces (FAR). It is compulsory for all men in Cuba to serve in the army for 2 years, at the ages between 17 and 25, while it is voluntary for women. Along with the regular troops, the Regional Militia (MTT) and the Production and Defense Brigades (BPD) act as backup and rearguard for the army respectively.

The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) count on over 5 million people, organized per neighborhood since 1960 to counter the actions of the opposition. CDRs are also in charge of the political and ideological indoctrination of the Cuban people, as well as the enforcement of social duties, environmental protection and cultural programs. The Young Communist League (UJC) is the breeding ground for the Party and represents, at the same time, the interests of the Cuban youth. 80% of women are integrated to the National Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), representative of this population sector in education, health, culture and maternity. The National Association for Small Farmers (ANAP) supports programs for minor agricultural enterprises as well as the organization of joint ventures in the rural sector. The Organization of Cuban Workers (CTC) goes back to 1939 and today it counts for over 3 million members.

The media is in the hands of the State and Communist Party. Due to the economic crisis only the National newspaper "Granma" is issued daily; provincial papers and other press media appear weekly. Together with national and local radio broadcasts, there are 4 TV channels, also state-owned.

After the fall of socialism in the Eastern European countries and the Soviet Union, with which Cuba was closely related, the county's foreign policy emphasizes on the establishment of new political and economic relations in the Latin-American context. Diplomatic relations with the USA continue to be permeated by misunderstanding, bureaucratic maneuvers and political propaganda on the American side.