What happens after Castro?

Wacky theme bars in NeoHavana.

This part...

Suchlicki gets calls from think-tank types as well as Cuban-American entrepreneurs and multinational conglomerates — IBM, McDonald's, Texaco, Anheuser-Busch — all of which are concocting "entrance strategy" plans for Cuba.

..while hardly surprising, infuriated me for some reason. Partially irrational, I'm sure, as some of the people there would LOVE to work for these companies if it will help things economically in the country, but my semi-selfish "I don't want to see something so unique, even if hardly perfect, get co-opted and globalized into Corp Country #A456B" side just clenched my fists while reading this paragraph.

I'll also note that Suchlicki may be the worst and best last name I've seen in print ever.

The re-Americanization of Cuba, of course, under the color of a new regime dominated by repatriated exiles, fronting for big US banks and multinational corporations.

Well, Aimless, I would think the same too, but the article pointed out some pretty cogent things that would suggest that this wouldn't happen anytime soon (after the eventual stepping down of Castro, by will or by death.)

The Cuban military can be bought. Co-option is our specialty. Cuba has no natural resources other than its geographic location - near the USA, with a tropical climate and its potential as a tax haven, gambling den or tourist playground. The exiles will have the dollars. The Cubans will be playing a weak hand. The current power elite will play ball as long as they get a cut of the action.