Corruption in Cuba

<p>While Fidel Castro maintained his longtime grip on Cuba revolutionary scholars and policy analysts  turned their attention from how Castro succeeded (and failed) to how Castro himself would be succeeded-by a new government. Among the many questions to be answered was how the new government would deal with the corruption that has become endemic in Cuba. Even though combating corruption cannot be the central aim of post-Castro policy Sergio Díaz-Briquets and Jorge Pérez-López suggest that without a strong plan to thwart it corruption will undermine the new economy erode support for the new government and encourage organized crime. In short unless measures are taken to stem corruption the new Cuba could be as messy as the old Cuba.</p> <p>Fidel Castro did not bring corruption to Cuba; he merely institutionalized it. Official corruption has crippled Cuba since the colonial period but Castro's state-run monopolies cronyism and lack of accountability have made Cuba one of the world's most corrupt states. The former communist countries in Eastern Europe were also extremely corrupt and analyses of their transitional periods suggest that those who have taken measures to control corruption have had more successful transitions regardless of whether the leadership tilted toward socialism or democracy. To that end Díaz-Briquets and Pérez-López both Cuban Americans do not advocate any particular system for Cuba's next government but instead prescribe uniquely Cuban policies to minimize corruption whatever direction the country takes after Castro. As their work makes clear averting corruption may be the most critical obstacle in creating a healthy new Cuba.</p>