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The Other Face of Nationalism: Cuba and China By Richard Wilson, New Economy Information Service, September 28, 2000 www.newecon.org

In a perceptive essay, Alejandro Portes contrasts the different ideological role nationalism plays in Cuba today in contrast to a decade ago in Eastern Europe. ("Strategic Neglect," American Prospect, September 25-October 9, 2000, link below).

Communist elites in Europe were handicapped by reliance on a foreign power. When Marxism collapsed as a legitimizing force, they stood naked in their position of privilege. Their opponents could join the demand for democratic rule with an appeal to national independence.

The Cuban ruling class is also without the prop of Marxism. No longer justifying their position as defenders of workers, they "live in exclusive neighborhoods, drive late-model European cars, and often wear Guccis and Rolexes." Instead, it is in national sovereignty, "the small besieged country" in the face of the colossus of the North where they find loyalty to the present regime. Democratic oppositionists are then tools of American imperialism.

The rulers in China make a similar appeal. Every issue, for example, touching in any way on Taiwan or Tibet receives heavy play in the press -- featured as still another attack on the territorial integrity of China. It is an appeal that finds a deep resonance for many, building on longheld resentments at foreign interference in China's history. Unlike the Soviet Union in its day, neither China nor Cuba claims to be an international model for export. Any such dreams have long gone. Instead, it is quite the opposite--the ideological appeal is to national independence and self-reliance in an antagonistic world.

The Chinese and Cuban press offer a regular drumbeat of new "threats" to the nation. For Cuba, most attention is focused on actions of the United States. The Chinese news media include others as well. Japan is a favorite target--a steady stream of articles featuring Japanese "militarism" (see "China Repeats Charge of Rising Japanese Militarism," Inside China Today, September 27, 2000, link below). The irony is that while China is rapidly expanding its military, Japan is mired in a Peace Constitution that allows little room for defense.

Cuban nationalism offers no threat to the rest of the world, only to its citizens who are left impoverished and without political rights. With China the case is different. If repression at home fails to contain growing internal conflict, the regime may come to play the nationalist card with military adventures in a desperate attempt to stay in power. Hopefully, it will not reach that point