Might the military seize power?
There’s no need for military officials to. They already wield enormous power because they control many of the most productive sectors of the economy. This stems from their role during the dire, so-called “Special Period” after the cutoff of Soviet aid in 1990. To pull Cuba through, the military took over key economic areas, including agriculture and tourism, and active or former military officers now hold many of the most lucrative jobs. What is the state of U.S.-Cuban relations? Relations are dismal and have deteriorated since 2000 under the Bush administration. There is some expectation that relations might improve after Castro’s death, especially with Congress now under the control of the Democratic Party. The Democrats are expected to push some initiatives to soften the U.S. economic embargo that was tightened in 2004. That may include relaxing travel restrictions for Cuban-Americans visiting relatives on the island, as well as regulations for academic exchanges and trade in food a
