The island's only employer, directly or indirectly, remains the revolutionary state. After 41 years, the Cuban revolutionaries' mind-set is internally coherent, still militant, and deeply intransigent. In defense of this intransigence, Fidel and his collaborators are willing to meet with outsiders, host foreign leaders and delegations, and posture as reasonable and tolerant people. But any genuine political or economic threat is met with an iron fist. Convinced of their own legitimacy as defenders of national sovereignty, the Cuban leaders have converted the country's citizens into little more than tools for their policies.
National dignity is preserved at the cost of a thorough violation of the dignity of the individual.
If the present economic embargo and other aggressive policies against the island were lifted, Cuba's power would be greatly reduced. The rest of the ideological edifice is likely to fall of its own weight. Repeated episodes during the past four decades have shown that Fidel thrives on confrontation, but remove the Cuban leader's sense of importance by denying him the role of nationalist David and much of the influence he exercises over his followers would dissipate. There are holes already in the pantyhose. The economic dependence of Cuba on remittances from its own exile community and on tourism creates a number of rising contradictions.