Cuba before the upheaval?

Cuba is at a historic turning point. The socialist economic system of the left-wing dictatorship is now more dysfunctional than ever before and, following the substantial loss of external support from Venezuela, has become barely sustainable. At the same time, the humanitarian crisis has reached unprecedented levels, while U.S. pressure on the regime continues to intensify. As Washington seeks to promote political change on the island, much of the Cuban population is struggling with daily survival. Whether the regime can continue to withstand mounting internal and external pressure, or whether Cuba is on the verge of a fundamental political transformation, is likely to become one of the defining questions of the coming months.