Eliminating these sanctions now will effectively deprive Castro s successor of an important propaganda device, an issue around which he can rally the troops. Since few individuals are likely to possess the charisma which Castro seems to possess now, a Cuba without sanctions is much more likely to be a country which a dictator will have trouble controlling. Add to that scenario the likely longing of the Cuban people for economic development, and one sees that Cubans will not endure a tyrant other than Castro for very long. The U.S. will still seem to be a demon in the eyes of many Cubans. Sanctions help to promote a bunker mentality in Cuba.
Democracy stands a much better chance of developing once people feel free to come out of the bunker.
Maybe a weak successor to Castro will even feel compelled, in the wake of lifted sanctions, to allow Cubans to have access to uncensored television and radio broadcasts, as well as the Internet. Democracy most likely won t be far behind, whether Castro s successor likes it or not. One would be naive to believe that Fidel Castro will ever lead Cuba into economic prosperity or democracy. The man is and probably always will be a dictator. But it is now time for the U.S. to set the stage for the post-Castro era, and the way to do that is to clear the deck of the sanctions which have failed to bring much change to Cuba over the last forty years.