In the coming years, it seems residents of Cuba will have much to look forward to thanks to recent political changes.
While Fidel Castro, the former decades-long ruler of Cuba, may have passed his position as president to his younger brother Raul in 2008, it seems Fidel is finally leaving the Cuban political scene.
Since 2008, the world has assumed Fidel still had a major impact in his position as the first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party. However, he announced last month he had passed on his position as first secretary when he passed along the presidency.
Whether this revelation is indeed true, his failing health seems to have removed him from leadership for the first time in 46 years.
This shift seems to be part of a large amount of recent changes that have taken place in the Cuban Communist Party. Along with Raul, who is less of an ideologue, becoming head of the party, the leadership now includes some younger members.
For those in Cuba who had been expecting change when Raul became president, it seems their wait is now over.
Along with the leadership changes, a lot of ideas concerning economic reform came about. While “communist” parties and plans of economic changes usually end in disaster, the new Cuban leadership’s plans seem to be best for Cuba and its citizens.
Like other countries that have tried a misguided attempt at communism, Cuba is now looking to make the economy a little more “free.” From allowing the sell and ownership of private property to encouraging more entrepreneurship in the country and eliminating many government jobs, these changes may help the country’s dismal economic situation.
But these changes shouldn’t be a surprise.
If you take a look at the countries that have attempted a bastardized version of communism, you’ll see that many of them are now forced to accept more capitalistic ideals.
The Soviet Union’s New Economic Policy in the 1920s is a perfect example.
For both the Soviet Union and now Cuba, change was inevitable. These countries simply were not prepared for the undertaking of communism, and these measures have to be taken not only to keep the economy afloat, but to help keep their citizens from fighting against the regimes.
Cuba needs to stop trying to keep the facade of communism going. Ever since the failed reforms initiated in the months after the revolution ended in 1959, it should have been readily apparent the country could never support communist ideals.
With all of this said, some of my frequent readers may be confused. I have not been quiet about my political views in past columns, and shouldn’t surprise many that I consider myself very far left on the political spectrum.
While I may find these countries’ intentions perfectly respectable, they were simply unprepared. For the longest time, Russia was considered a backward and agrarian country, which is not enough to attempt communism.
Cuba, while possibly better, was certainly no closer to having the required infrastructure.
These proposed changes in Cuba really should not surprise anyone in the slightest. Not only will it lead to more freedom for the Cuban people, it should also help end this five-decade long joke of a communist experiment.
Zachary Davis is a 20-year-old history junior from Warsaw, Poland. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_zdavis.
 
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