Cuba

The Republic of Cuba (República de Cuba), is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos.

Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is the most populous insular nation in the Caribbean. Its people, culture, and customs draw from diverse sources, including the aboriginal Taíno and Ciboney peoples; the period of Spanish colonialism; the introduction of African slaves; and its proximity to the United States.

The national liberation movement in Cuba succeeded with an assault on Fort Moncada on 26 July 1953 and ended with the seizure of power by Fidel Castro and his July 26 Movement on 2 January 1959. This overthrew the corrupt and brutal regime of Fulgencio Batista.

After the revolution, in February 1960, a trade and credit agreement with the Soviet Union was signed. In April, Soviet oil began to arrive in Cuba and, when the American-owned oil companies refused to refine it, Castro confiscated the Texaco, Shell and Standard Oil refineries. Between August and October 1960 Castro nationalised virtually all American-owned properties and most large Cuban-owned businesses. In October the United States announced a total trade embargo with Cuba. So, to survive the economic isolation, Castro looked towards the ‘Communist bloc’.

In April 1961, the day before the Bay of Pigs invasion, Castro officially declared that Cuba’s revolution was socialist. By a convenient coincidence, and with no previous interest in left-wing ideology, in December 1961 Castro announced that he was now a Marxist-Leninist. In October 1965 the Communist Party of Cuba was formed. However, for several years it had no programme or statutes (its first Congress was held ten years later, in December 1975). Brought to power by mass support for national liberation, Castro and his ruling party, and since 2008 his brother Raul as leader, continue the development of socialism.

Cuba has a 99.8% literacy rate, an infant death rate lower than some developed countries, and an average life expectancy of 77.64. In 2006, Cuba was the only nation in the world which met the WWF's definition of sustainable development; having an ecological footprint of less than 1.8 hectares per capita and a Human Development Index of over 0.8 for 2007.

Military
As of 2014 the Cuban army of about 50,000, having played a vital role in the past, continues to provide the backbone of support to the ruling party.

Health care
Cuba has developed a good health care system and a good system for training of health care workers. Providing health care workers to other countries is both a cornerstone of Cuban foreign policy but also a substantial source of export earnings. Particularly profitable, both diplomatically and financially, was the agreement with Hugo Chávez to provide medical care and training for the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA).

Doctors receive free education in Cuba, but a monthly salary, in Cuba, of the equivalent of only $30 U.S. Cuba contracts with its doctors to go to other countries such as Brazil for a monthly salary of about $1,000 U.S, but charges about $4,000 U.S. a month to the country where the services are provided. Doctors are required to leave their children in Cuba. Doctors sent to other countries may become informed regarding the pay scales and conditions enjoyed by doctors in other countries and attempt to either defect, or break their contracts with the Cuban government.

Freemasonry
Due to historical reasons freemasonry operates freely in Cuba.

External links and further reading

 * EcuRed:Enciclopedia cubana In Spanish
 * Cuba Study Group From the Island series
 * Cuba Debate Official government site
 * Jorge I. Dominguez, editor; Rafael Hernandez, editor; Lorena G. Barberia, editor; Debating U.S.-Cuba Relations: Shall We Play Ball?, Routledge (August 17, 2011), trade paperback: 288 pages,  ; hardcover: 288 pages, Routledge (August 15, 2011),