After creating “new economic actors” to pave the way for state capitalism aimed at revitalizing the country’s economy and maintaining the so-called “achievements of the revolution,” the Cuban regime is now seeking their involvement in its social policies.
Self-employed workers (TCP), new entrepreneurs, and owners of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (Mipymes) are being called upon to form this new social group of “committed entrepreneurs.” In Russia—a model the Cuban regime follows—these individuals constitute a class of oligarchs and businesspeople serving an autocratic power.
Under political conditioning, these new economic actors in the totalitarian Cuban regime are taking on roles beyond their intended purpose of energizing the economy and creating wealth. Now, they are being summoned by their “creators” to participate in the political agenda of the Palace, whether it be in the battle to lower the dollar in the informal currency market or in organizing to perform the social work of a dismantling state.
A new concept is emerging in “post-communist” Cuba: the “co-responsibility” of new economic actors alongside the state in social matters such as poverty, attention to vulnerable groups, maintaining the public health system, or caring for the elderly and dependent individuals.
New Economic Actors and Social Responsibilities
This was evident at the University of Havana on Monday during the International Meeting “Care, Development, and Social Justice: Policies, Approaches, Actors, and Best Practices,” organized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the regime.
A report from the National Television News (NTV) highlighted the meeting's emphasis on “the need for greater integration and involvement of new economic and social actors in the system being built in Cuba.”
The message is crystal clear: In Cuba, a new system is being constructed, and the builders (the regime) are calling on these capitalistically enriched supporters to shoulder the responsibility and become “co-responsible” for addressing the needs of those being left behind.
“No one will be left helpless,” has been the regime’s mantra since adopting the “Guidelines of the Economic and Social Policy of the Party and the Revolution” in 2011 as a new direction for an economy forced to transform or collapse entirely. “No one will be left helpless,” the regime reiterated ten years later when it initiated the failed “economic and monetary reordering” in 2021.
But in nearly fifteen years, Cuba has only seen an increase in the number of helpless individuals, disinvestment in public policies and infrastructures (while tourism, hotels, and private sectors grow), poverty, inequality, social exclusion, migrants, repression, and injustice.
Yet, the regime’s propaganda machine has continued to repeat this empty and false slogan. The void of “no one will be left helpless” is now being disguised with the call for new economic actors to fill the gap left by the state in the realm of social policies.
“The system establishes a government instrument with a strategic vision to ensure that the issue of care is viewed more comprehensively, not just from the sectors, and from there, it has a significant challenge related to achieving greater co-responsibility among the actors involved. Not everything can be the responsibility of the state; there must be participation from the family, the state, and various economic actors, as well as shared responsibility,” a Ministry of Labor and Social Security official told NTV.
Three days of sessions, exchanges, analysis, and recommendations culminated in presenting the Cuban public with a semblance of a “strategy” from Miguel Díaz-Canel’s “continuity” government, which aims to shift the responsibility for its failures onto third-party actors.
This is the same strategy now being touted by the Palace’s occupant throughout towns and cities, loudly proclaiming that food must be “fought for” in the fields, and that municipalities are responsible for ensuring that Cubans have food on their tables.
Understanding Cuba's New Economic and Social Policies
To better comprehend the implications of Cuba's evolving economic and social landscape, here are some key questions and answers:
What are the "new economic actors" in Cuba?
The "new economic actors" in Cuba include self-employed workers, new entrepreneurs, and owners of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (Mipymes).
Why is the Cuban regime involving these new economic actors in social policies?
The regime is involving these actors to fill the gap left by the state in social policies and to encourage them to take responsibility for social issues such as poverty and healthcare.
What is the significance of the International Meeting at the University of Havana?
The meeting was significant as it highlighted the need for greater integration of new economic and social actors in the Cuban system, emphasizing their co-responsibility in social matters.