Cuba's New Constitution and Washington's Old Habits

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13169/intejcubastud.11.1.0005
• Pages: 5-7
• Published date: 01 July 2019
• Date: 01 July 2019
• Author: Stephen Wilkinson

IJCS Produced and distributed by Pluto Journals www.plutojournals.com/ijcs/

CUBA’S NEW CONSTITUTION AND

WASHINGTON’S OLD HABITS

Stephen Wilkinson

University of Buckingham

On 24 February 2019, the Cuban electorate went to the polls to vote on the rati-

fication of the new constitution, which, contrary to what some comments in the

Western media suggested, makes significant changes to the political, social and

economic order. This was the first time in 43 years that the Cuban people had

the opportunity to express either support or opposition to a proposal that fun-

damentally restructures aspects of the economy and political system.

According to the Cuban electoral commission, turnout was 84 per cent (slightly

higher than in Cuba’s previous elections in April 2018), with 87 per cent in favour of

the new constitution. The size of the vote gives reason to argue that whatever misgiv-

ings Cubans might have had with the new constitution, they see it as a worthwhile

project overall. It should be emphasised that the drafting process that produced the

final text that was approved in the 24 February referendum involved a consultation

process that was extremely inclusive and involved millions of citizens. It resulted in

changes to the final document, an indication that the Cuban government’s commit-

ment to citizen empowerment and inclusion within a single party state is genuine.

In keeping with that system, the new Constitution retains the proclamation

that the Communist Party’s guiding role in Cuban society and its commitment to

socialism are irreversible. However, at the same time, the document includes sev-

eral significant changes to Cuba’s economic and political model. Cuba’s old con-

stitution was drafted and approved by referendum in 1976 during the Cold War

when Cuba became a fully fledged member of the now defunct Soviet-led and

centrally planned COMECON system. Since then, the government’s vision for

the country’s economy and Cuban society itself has changed dramatically, espe-

cially in the past decade. Reform guidelines announced in 2011, alongside a

Communist Party document approved in 2016, make clear that Cuba is now

EDITORIAL