쿠바의 관광산업과 히네테리스모: 자본주의와 사회주의의 접합

Abstract

With the development of tourism in Cuba, the number of jineteros working for foreign tourists has increased rapidly. Jineterismo is an economic strategy inevitably chosen by the poor Cubans who are suffering from persistent low wages and lack of employment. In the Cuban society in which the majority of Cubans are faced with severe economic difficulties, the increase of jineteros is having a very significant impact on the socio-economic changes. In particular, jineterismo has provided new opportunities for mulattoes and blacks who have endured social discrimination in Cuba. Although still limited, the transformation of some jineteros into small-scale, self-employed workers has also been confirmed. In this regard, jineterismo can facilitate the conjunction of socialism and capitalism in the closed socialist economy by helping in the emergence of entrepreneurs or innovators. In terms of socio-cultural aspects, jineterismo can play an important role in shaping values and a new worldview, which differ from socialist ideology. Of course, the economic activities of jineteros are illegal in principle, and frequently their behaviors may threaten the existing social order in Cuba. But, it cannot be denied that jineteros take the role of cultural brokers between foreign tourists and Cubans.