The topic of "challenges faced by Cuban youth" was the focus of Cubadebate's weekly podcast on April 4. It provided a platform for discussion between two young officials and academics aligned with the Cuban regime. The conversation, which was more an exercise in propaganda than genuine discourse, featured television presenter and regime academic, Marxlenin Pérez, and sociologist Anaclara León. They attempted to address the discrepancies between the idealized socialist model and the harsh social reality young Cubans face.
In the context of the 63rd anniversary of the Union of Young Communists (UJC), the participants openly acknowledged the difficulties of "being a young revolutionary." They pointed not only to material shortages but also to the lack of ideological tools necessary to sustain the official discourse among the younger generations.
Between Slogans and Crisis
Although the podcast aimed to "debate without filters," it was clearly constrained within the bounds of official ideology. Despite these limitations, moments of honesty slipped through, inadvertently highlighting the disconnect between revolutionary propaganda and the actual concerns of Cuban youth.
Anaclara admitted that many young individuals enter university not to "contribute to the country" but rather to obtain a degree that facilitates emigration. "Many say, 'I won’t practice my profession; the degree is for my parents and my ticket out,'" she confessed. In a nation where brain drain and an aging population are rampant, this statement underscored the collapse of the project the regime insists on perpetuating.
The Revolution: An Inherited Legacy
One of the most telling moments was when León expressed that "young people do not feel part of the revolutionary process," and for many in her generation, "the revolution is something that already happened," completely disconnected from their present. Far from representing historical continuity, the "revolutionary" rhetoric seems to be an irrelevant "spiel" for those born amid power outages, inflation, and widespread decline.
The critique did not stop there. The interlocutor herself acknowledged that "being a revolutionary makes you seem crazy or indoctrinated," revealing that even within youth structures like the UJC or the FEU, there is no solid understanding of what socialism truly means.
Participation for What Purpose?
Despite efforts to portray Cuban youth as protagonists, Anaclara recognized that many youth structures replicate outdated, top-down schemes. "Young people need to feel like protagonists, not passive recipients," she said, without delving into how this protagonism can be realized without real freedom of expression or decision-making.
Though the podcast was wrapped in inclusivity and progressive language, it ultimately reinforced the image of a youth trapped between empty rhetoric and the urgent need to build a future that the state does not offer. The challenges faced by young Cubans extend far beyond the official discourse: it is about survival, seeking opportunities where none exist, and channeling the widespread desire for change within a repressive regime that neither represents nor listens to them. The regime uses the damp powder of a discourse that seeks to equate the nation with the so-called "revolution," dismiss opponents as "non-Cubans," proclaim false unity around the leadership of "continuity," and uphold socialism as an irreversible and eternal socioeconomic project.
Understanding the Challenges of Cuban Youth
Why do Cuban youth find it difficult to identify with the revolutionary process?
Many young Cubans feel disconnected from the revolutionary process because it is perceived as a past event, irrelevant to their current struggles with power shortages, inflation, and overall decline.
What are some reasons Cuban youth pursue higher education?
Many pursue higher education not to contribute to the country but to acquire a degree that will help them emigrate, as they seek better opportunities abroad.
How do Cuban youth perceive participation in regime-backed organizations?
Cuban youth often see participation in regime-backed organizations as futile, as these structures tend to be hierarchical and do not allow for genuine expression or decision-making.
What is the main challenge for Cuban youth under the current regime?
The main challenge is navigating survival within a regime that does not offer opportunities for growth or change, while trying to express a desire for a future that diverges from the current system.