Study Finds Cubans Skeptical of Reforms
Washington
Cubans do not believe they will benefit from Raul Castro’s economic reforms, and many fear that their personal situation will become worse, according to a special report – Real Change for Cuba? How Citizens View Their Country’s Future – released today by Freedom House.
Freedom House’s study, based on 120 in-depth interviews with a diverse set of Cubans in six provinces, found that Cubans remain preoccupied with economic concerns and often have trouble meeting daily needs. Although recent announcements about economic reforms have raised expectations, many respondents said they have little control over their situation and are afraid of losing the minimal government support mechanisms that have helped them to survive.
“Cubans express little confidence in their government’s ability to improve their lot,” said Daniel Calingaert, deputy director of programs at Freedom House. “They also want their basic rights to be respected.” Many respondents in the interviews indicated a desire for greater freedom of expression and removal of restrictions on travel.
The study also analyzes basic Cuban values for the first time and compares them to findings from the World Values Survey. This comparison suggests that Cubans, who hold fairly progressive social values but are focused on economic survival, have values that are more similar to post-Communist countries than to countries in Latin America.
Other key findings include:
Freedom House’s study, based on 120 in-depth interviews with a diverse set of Cubans in six provinces, found that Cubans remain preoccupied with economic concerns and often have trouble meeting daily needs. Although recent announcements about economic reforms have raised expectations, many respondents said they have little control over their situation and are afraid of losing the minimal government support mechanisms that have helped them to survive.
“Cubans express little confidence in their government’s ability to improve their lot,” said Daniel Calingaert, deputy director of programs at Freedom House. “They also want their basic rights to be respected.” Many respondents in the interviews indicated a desire for greater freedom of expression and removal of restrictions on travel.
The study also analyzes basic Cuban values for the first time and compares them to findings from the World Values Survey. This comparison suggests that Cubans, who hold fairly progressive social values but are focused on economic survival, have values that are more similar to post-Communist countries than to countries in Latin America.
Other key findings include:
*Cuban youth remain, in general, apolitical and principally interested in personal economic gain.
*Modern technologies such as internet and cell phones, which are extremely expensive and subject to heavy censorship, remain unattainable for many Cubans.
*Cubans do not consider government media sources to be reliable, and many Cubans do not follow the news. Independent media, which is considered more reliable, is not easily accessible.
The interviews were conducted in December 2010 and January 2011, three months after Raul Castro announced major economic reforms, including plans to eliminate a million public sector jobs.
Freedom House consistently places Cuba among the world’s worst regimes. Cuba is ranked Not Free in Freedom in the World 2011, Freedom House’s annual survey of political rights and civil liberties, and in Freedom of the Press 2011. The island nation also received the third-lowest ranking in Freedom on the Net, a study of Internet freedom in 37 countries released in 2011.
For more information on Cuba, visit:
The interviews were conducted in December 2010 and January 2011, three months after Raul Castro announced major economic reforms, including plans to eliminate a million public sector jobs.
Freedom House consistently places Cuba among the world’s worst regimes. Cuba is ranked Not Free in Freedom in the World 2011, Freedom House’s annual survey of political rights and civil liberties, and in Freedom of the Press 2011. The island nation also received the third-lowest ranking in Freedom on the Net, a study of Internet freedom in 37 countries released in 2011.
For more information on Cuba, visit:
Real Change for Cuba? How Citizens View Their Country’s Future
Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization that supports democratic change, monitors the status of freedom around the world, and advocates for democracy and human rights.
Join us on Facebook and Twitter(freedomhousedc) and stay up to date with Freedom House’s latest news and events by signing up for our RSS feeds.
Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization that supports democratic change, monitors the status of freedom around the world, and advocates for democracy and human rights.
Join us on Facebook and Twitter(freedomhousedc) and stay up to date with Freedom House’s latest news and events by signing up for our RSS feeds.
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