Raul Castro Named President of Cuba

Cuba's Parliament named Raul Castro the new president of Cuba Sunday (February 24, 2008), replacing his brother Fidel. Castro announced earlier in the week he would not seek another term due to poor health. What will Cuba be like without Fidel Castro at the helm?

Fidel Castro on Meet the Press - April 19, 1959 (Library of American Broadcasting)

The University of Maryland has the experts you need for your stories looking at Cuba-US relations and where Cuba is headed without Fidel Castro.

Cuban President Fidel Castro's announcement that he is relinquishing power is not likely to have much of an immediate effect on either side of the Florida Straits. In Cuba, his brother and designated successor, Raul Castro, will be trying to hold onto power and manage a successful leadership transition.

The United States, despite all the talk about wanting democracy on the island, is mostly hoping for stability, at least in the short term. The last thing American Navy Admirals or other military leaders want to see is chaos on the streets of Cuba that leads to another mass exodus of people to Florida like the ones we had in 1980 and the early 1990s. The United States military is stretched thin in Iraq and Afghanistan and does not want another mission right now.

Over the long term, though, we might see small, but significant changes. Raul Castro has been rumored to favor moves toward Chinese-style capitalism. He has, in the past, been called pragmatic. On this side of the straits, the United States is in the middle of a presidential election. In January, a new president will have the first opportunity in nearly 50 years to take office with somebody other than Fidel Castro in power in Cuba. It is not inconceivable that we could see the next occupant of the White House ease travel restrictions or make other overtures toward Cuba's new leaders.

Rafael Lorente
Lecturer
Philip Merrill College of Journalism

Number of experts found: 6

		Laurie A. Frederik Meer Asst Prof Performance Studies (Affiliate Faculty - Anthropology, Latin American Studies, Women's Studies)
Expertise Key Words: Cuba, Caribbean, Latin America, African Diaspora, South Africa, politics and performance
Contact Information:
Work phone(s)     E-mail(s)     301 405 6682 fredmeer@umd.edu
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		Saul Sosnowski Professor & Director; Director Office of International Programs; Latin American Studies Center
Expertise Key Words: Latin American Fiction and Essay, Literary Criticism, Latin American-Jewish Literature and Cultures
Contact Information:
Work phone(s)     E-mail(s)     301 405 4772 sosnowsk@umd.edu
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		Juan Carlos Quintero-Herencia Professor Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Expertise Key Words: Latin American and Caribbean Cultures and Literature; Philosophy and Literature, Theory and Cultural Practices
Contact Information:
Work phone(s)     E-mail(s)     301-405-6450 jcquinte@umd.edu
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		Roger R. Betancourt Professor Economics
Expertise Key Words: Applied microeconomics and economic development. His main consultancies include international organizations as well as business firms. He is an expert on Cuba's Economy.
Contact Information:
Work phone(s)     E-mail(s)     301 405 3479 betancou@econ.umd.edu
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		George H. Quester Professor Government & Politics
Expertise Key Words: Professor of government and politics, University of Maryland; National security, international military and security policy; John M. Olin Visiting Professor at the United States Naval Academy.
Contact Information:
Work phone(s)     E-mail(s)     301 405 4146 gquest@umd.edu
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		Rafael Lorente Lecturer Philip Merrill College of Journalism
Expertise Key Words: U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba. Media coverage of national politics/presidential elections.
Contact Information:
Work phone(s)     Home phone     Cell phone           E-mail(s)     301 405 2425 301 864 0168 202 841 2375 rlorente@jmail.umd.edu
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