Harmonization, But Not Homogenization: The Case for Cuban Autonomy in Globalizing Economic Reforms

Since 1959, Cuba has been an anomaly in the Western Hemisphere. From its fierce isolationism to its steadfast commitment to communism and Fidel Castro, the Cuban model shunned many modern conventions and developments of the increasingly globalized world. However, in the last decade, subtle shifts in Cuban governance and control led some scholars to question if and how Cuba could participate in the modern, global economy. President Raúl Castro answered the speculation in late 2010 with an announcement regarding Cuban economic modernization and, again, in 2011, as significant economic reforms were implemented. All of these changes beg the ultimate question: Can Cuba engage and interact with the global economy and remain a Marxist-Leninist philosophy, or is an irreversible, fundamental homogenization required? This Note argues that, based on the basic principles of globalization, it is possible for Cuba to enter the globalized economy and to harmonize, rather than homogenize, their economic policies with those of other countries while retaining its Marxist-Leninist philosophy. Globalization unavoidably and transformatively requires all global actors to harmonize their policies but does not require homogenization or uniformity.