In a statement that has sparked critical reactions and mockery on social media, an academic of the regime acknowledged on state television that Cuba is not a socialist country, contradicting decades of official propaganda that has insisted the Island operates under that political model.
The statement reaffirms what many Cubans have said for years: that socialism in Cuba has always been an unfulfilled promise and an ideological pretext to justify the absolute control of power by the Communist Party.
Silvia Odriozola Guitart, dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Havana, stated in the government program "Cuadrando la caja" that "Cuba is not a socialist country, but rather is in the 'historical period of constructing socialism'."
This formula, used since the times of Fidel Castro, has been a constant excuse to justify the failures of the system.
For over 60 years, the regime has promised that the socialist paradise is "under construction," even though the country experiences a reality more akin to a hell of scarcity, blackouts, censorship, and repression.
More Marxism to cover up the disaster
In her speech, Odriozola even proposed to "rescue" the figure of Lenin, the Bolshevik leader who established totalitarianism in Soviet Russia. "It is a political economy that draws from Marxism and takes inspiration from Lenin's experience," the academic said, overlooking the fact that it is a model that has failed wherever it has been implemented.
According to Odriozola, the political economy of socialism is "a science under construction," and the main challenge lies in converting theoretical consensus into practical transformations.
But he did not mention that these "transformations" have historically translated into forced collectivization, extreme bureaucratization, economic ruin, and suppression of individual freedoms.
"In the case of Cuba, unfortunately, the transformations we are making are not always consistent with those agreements..." she lamented, in a conciliatory tone.
The television space "Cuadrando la caja," a co-production between the Informative System of Cuban Television and the official media Cubadebate and La Pupila Insomne, aims to discuss economics, but in reality serves as a showcase to recycle the regime's ideological discourse, disguised as technical analysis.
Her name is Marxlenin, a compound name derived from Marx and Lenin -the founders of communism-, which in itself is a declaration of principles.
According to her, she was named that way by her parents while they were studying Philosophy at the University of Havana, an anecdote that encapsulates the generational indoctrination that has prevailed on the Island since 1959.
The same old rhetoric
This speech is not new.
In June, Miguel Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged before the congress of the National Association of Economists and Accountants of Cuba (ANEC) that to achieve the construction of socialism, "a well-structured economic system" is needed. This implicit confession that such a system does not yet exist calls into question over six decades of communist rule.
The ruler has reiterated multiple times that the solution to the crisis must be sought within Marxism-Leninism, which not only shows a blind adherence to a failed ideology but also a complete lack of self-criticism.
According to Díaz-Canel, Marxism must "be naturally integrated into everyday life", and his proposal to save the crumbling state enterprises has been the same for years: repeatedly turning back to Marxist political economy.
But the reality is that the state-owned socialist enterprise, idealized by the regime, has not demonstrated profitability, efficiency, or sustainability for 60 years.
What it has generated is corruption, shortages, and a disproportionate power for the bureaucracy that oppresses both the worker and the entrepreneur.
Eternal socialism... but only in discourse
From Fidel Castro to Díaz-Canel, passing through Raúl Castro, Cuban socialism has always been a postponed goal, never a concrete reality.
While the official narrative insists that a superior model of society is being "built," Cubans suffer the reality of a dictatorship without economic results, without political rights, and without hope for change.
Even today, no leader has said that Cuba has ceased to be socialist, although they have also been unable to demonstrate that socialism has been successfully implemented at any point.
The concept serves more as an ideological banner that justifies repression, absolute state control, and systemic failure, rather than as a tangible model that has improved the lives of the people.
With this latest televised confession, the regime - through its own academy - acknowledges a truth that millions of Cubans already know from experience: there is no socialism, only propaganda.
And if after 65 years they still need to "rescue Lenin," it is because the model is dead, even if its defenders are not yet brave enough to bury it.
Frequently Asked Questions about Socialism in Cuba and the Current Economic Situation
Is Cuba really a socialist country?
According to an academic from the Cuban regime, Cuba is not a socialist country, but rather is in a "historical period of building socialism." This statement contradicts decades of official propaganda and reaffirms the perception that socialism in Cuba has been an unfulfilled promise and an ideological pretext to justify the absolute control of power by the Communist Party.
What does "rescuing Lenin" mean in the current Cuban context?
The academic Silvia Odriozola proposed to "rescue" the figure of Lenin to nourish the political economy of socialism in Cuba. This proposal implies a return to Marxist-Leninist ideas as a foundation to try to resolve the country's economic crisis. However, this approach has been criticized for its lack of positive results and for perpetuating a failed model.
What are the main economic problems Cuba is currently facing?
Cuba is facing an economic crisis characterized by shortages, inflation, and a lack of foreign investment, among other issues. Economic centralization, the absence of structural reforms, and stifling state control have worsened the situation. Despite the promises to "perfect socialism," the reality is that living conditions for most Cubans continue to deteriorate.
What structural changes does the Cuban regime propose to improve the economy?
The Cuban regime has announced "structural changes" in the economy, but always within the limits of the "socialist model." These proposals include reorganizing the productive structure and improving productivity, but they avoid addressing key issues such as market freedom or the privatization of strategic sectors. Independent analysts criticize these measures for being inadequate to resolve the country's structural crisis.
How does the current situation affect young Cubans?
The Cuban youth face significant challenges, as many young people do not feel part of the revolutionary process and seek to emigrate in search of better opportunities. The lack of ideological and material tools to support the official discourse, along with economic precariousness, has led to a disconnection between the new generations and the political project of the regime.
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