Jon Lee Anderson

The idea of Cubans traveling abroad or working abroad were eased up under Raul Castro 10 or so years ago.

But

In the years since then, although Cubans could in theory come and go, the economy and the expectations of a future have completely plummeted.

And so in the wake of the opening between Raul Castro and Barack Obama in 2015 to 16, just before Fidel died,

There was this amazing moment when it looked like the barriers between the two countries were coming down.

Americans could visit the island.

Cubans could visit America.

It was all hunky dory.

And then it closed up again and it closed up.

This is a complicated set of reasons why it closed up partly Trump, but also partly the conservatives on the island.

And then you had COVID and then you had the uprising by people in 2021.

You referenced

and the crushed expectations of an increased liberalization, you know, some private enterprise initiatives that that had gotten underway.

There's been a waxing and waning as the party tries to take control.

It's increasingly militarily run.

So you've just had this exodus that's unbelievable.

When I went back in May for the first time in a number of years, I was trying to put my finger on what was different, because in some ways, the story of Cuba the past 30 years since the end of the Soviet Union is one of

decrepitude, you know, it's one in which we've seen the place become famously distressed.

You know, there's 50s Chevys, nothing's painted.

Some people think that's quaint, whatever.