Cuba: transforming a revolution

Cambridge, Massachusetts

DURING the 1990s, the popular assumption was that most Cubans, if they had a choice, would leave their country for the United States in a heartbeat. Today, while many Cubans still try to cross international waters to reach the United States, many more are looking towards developing Cuba, from inside and outside. US tourists are drawn to the mythical colonial Cuba, of antique American cars and fine cigars, and investors hope to rebuild golf courses and resorts. Cubans want to move into the future as quickly as possible, craving electronics, accessible Internet and new cars.

Americans and Cubans are equally curious about exploring the other side since last December, when President Barack Obama and President Raúl Castro made the surprise announcement on restoration of full diplomatic relations between the two countries. Both sides concede the process will be gradual, yet changes in leadership that paved the way for rapprochement are inevitable: Mr Obama leaves office in January 2017; and Mr Castro, now 84, has announced his intention to retire in 2018. Normalising relations ends near six decades of hostility that began in 1956 after Raúl's older brother, Fidel Castro, led an army of guerrilla fighters into Havana and became prime minister. The United States broke off relation…