The Cuban "Special Period" is the time between about 1992 and 1996 when Cuba's economy severely contracted after Soviet preferential sugar payments and fuel shipments were stopped. The average Cuban went from a diet of something like 2500-3000 calories per day to 1500-2000, and the overall standard of living declined. Things are better now, but it's taken about a decade of painfully reorganizing Cuba's economy, rationalizing the agricultural inefficiencies and developing a decent tourist sector.

Yah, Oleg wouldn't like that too much. :P