TEMAS, Ei Periodo Especial veinte anos despues
TEMAS: no. 65: 59-75, enero-marzo de 2011
http://www.temas.cult.cu/revistas/65/059%20Mesa.pdf
A special section of the TEMAS issue of January-March 2011 includes a Panel discussion on the causes, character and consequences of the “Special Period.” This still seems to be the epoch that Cuba is in officially, as there has been no official termination of the epoch nor a declaration of a new label for a new era. The panelists include Mayra Espina, sociologist ath the Centro de Investigaciones Psicológicas y Sociológicas (CIPS). José Luis Rodríguez, once again at the. Centro de Investigaciones de la Economía Mundial (CIEM) but formerly Minister of Finance and Planning, Juan Triana, an economist at the. Centro de Estudios sobre la Economía Cubana (CEEC) and Rafael Hernández the Director de TEMAS
The questions addressed to the panel by Rafael Hernández include (in paraphrase):
1. What was the character of the “Special Period” (SP)?
Were its causes essentially external?
Was it predominantly economic in character?
For how long has it continued?
2. How effective were the policies implemented to deal with ot”
Were the policies based on scientific research?
Were the policies coherent and effective?
Were there unintended consequences?
To what extent did the policies succeed?
3. Has the SP generated positive or progressive advances?
4. Questions from the floor.
