When Fidel Castro led a revolution against Batista in 1959, he and his supporters had a vision of a "social utopia" in which everyone would prosper and Cuban society would be high-class and well-educated. There would be no discrimination or crime.

In response to the Revolution, the United States put in place an economic blockade against Cuba. Castro's government was forced to turn to the Soviet Union for economic and military support. When the Soviet Union fell, Cuba was left without the help of a powerful coutnry, and Cuba entered a terrible economic crisis. Referred to by the government as the"Special Period in Time of Peace," the crisis resulted in shortages of goods, power and transport. Many Habaneros were forced to farm gardens in the middle of the city to supplement their diets.

While the economy is suffering, the living conditions for the average Havana resident have improved since the Revolution. There is still a large group living in poverty and pre-Revolution shantytowns, but Habaneros as a group are generally better off now.

Havana is run by a national and city government. The national government is much more prominent in Havana than the city government, but the city still provides important services and maintains order. Education is under government control. Education up to the university level is free and compulsory, and a university education, although not compulsory, is also free. Virtually every child in Havana attends school, but there are differences in quality from school to school. Also, the education children receive has a Socialist slant, teaching the idealogies of Fidel Castro and his followers.