Cuba might become a little more open politically and economically now that Fidel Castro has stepped down as president, but major changes are unlikely with his brother Raul Castro in charge, policy analysts say.

Fidel Castro, who has been seriously ill for more than a year, formally announced Tuesday he will not return to the presidency that his brother has been occupying while he was recovering.

Raul Castro has made statements that some reforms are needed, but a sudden conversion to capitalism or a warm embrace of the United States is not in the near future, they said.

Michael Kryzanek, a professor at Bridgewater State College and author of the textbook "U.S. and Latin American Relations," said Raul Castro has hinted that the Cuban economy needs to open up to allow more free market practices.

But, for the most part, the status quo will largely survive while any Castro is in charge. "Raul might be a little more pragmatic," he said.

U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, a Cuban specialist who has long advocated better relations with the United States, said he hopes the passing of power will bring about policy changes.

He said Raul Castro has indicated he wants to make the Cuban bureaucracy more efficient, but he has not gone so far as to renounce the country's communist system.

"Anyone who is expecting him to cry uncle to the United States will be disappointed," McGovern said.

Still, McGovern said the change in power is an opportunity to improve relations and end the U.S. economic and travel embargo against Cuba.

He and 100 other congressmen have written to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking for a policy review.

Raul Castro is not nearly as popular as his older brother, they said, but they do not see any immediately threat to his rule from within Cuba.

President Bush reaffirmed Tuesday the U.S. policy toward Cuba will not change.

Both Kryzanek and McGovern said Fidel Castro will be remembered by history as a nationalist who withstood threats from the United States over 50 years and as a dictator who suppressed human rights.

"Castro will be seen as an individual who successfully took on U.S. presidents since Eisenhower. He has remained a hero in certain areas of Latin America," Kryzanek said. "On one hand, history will condemn his human rights record," McGovern said. "On the other, he is an enormously popular figure."

Kryzanek said part of Castro's legacy is the universal education and health care system his government has provided to the country.

Another part, however, is poverty and a deteriorating infrastructure that is badly in need of investment, he said.