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Cuba & Castro

Reviews the history of Cuba since the Castro-led revolution. Examines the goals & achievements of Castro's government, as well as the failures. Analyzes Cuba's prospects for the post-Castro future.

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Despite the original promise of the Revolution, the failure of Cuba's leadership to respond effectively to a poor economy, failing social programs and the collapse and repudiation of communism in other parts of the world makes future success unlikely. A terrible economic crisis, the constant reminders of Fidel Castro's age and mortality, serious indications that many of the revolution's goals are as far away from being accomplished as they were in 1958, and the rising disillusionment and cynicism of the Cuban people all indicate that the country's socialist revolution--the most thorough and radical in twentieth-century Latin America--is failing.
The political and economic life of early twentieth-century Cuba was dependent on a powerful planter class and on foreign support, thus creating a lopsided society of privileges. For almost 25 years, a shrewd army sergeant, Fulgencio Batista y Zaldi

The response to recent upheavals has been slow and although the statefinally implemented a variety of reform policies, they will require time tosucceed. Montaner, C. Lacking a democratic electoral process, the Revolution became thesole political arbiter. The firststage of the Cuban Revolution was characterized by the liquidation of theold power groups, which included the military, political parties, laborunions and agricultural and professional associations, and theirreplacement by new revolutionary bodies such as the Committees for theDefense of the Revolution. Castro hoped that this new citizen would help lead tocapital accumulation and the economic development of society as a whole.He also hoped that the spreading of this revolutionary model to othercountries in Latin America would ensure the survival of socialism in Cuba(Wiarda, 1995). This neglect has led to the shortages andrationing and the crisis in housing and building maintenance but, moreimportantly, it has led to a lack of empowerment and ownership of the Cubanpeople. The political leadership became moreidealistic and imbued with the idea that the society's material base wasresponsible for shaping its culture, morals, and political framework.Militancy and revolutionary consciousness were encouraged in politics,culture and relations between the state and the labor force and coercionwas used as a weapon against dissidents and counterrevolutionaries(Montaner, 1994). Despite the original promise of the Revolution, the failure of Cuba'sleadership to respond effectively to a poor economy, failing socialprograms and the collapse and repudiation of communism in other parts ofthe world makes future success unlikely. Castro soon agreed to assume the post of prime minister. embargo continues to undermine the economy and theeconomic crisis has only worsened since Soviet subsidies were withdrawn in199 (Wiarda, 1995). The social crisis that faces Cuba centers around generational splitsand declining social programs. The United States' failed attempt to invade Cuba in April 1961 andsubsequent embargo only consolidated Cuba's regime and increased itspopular support. In addition to the repressive measures it has takenagainst dissidents and the pursuit of a policy that led to continuingdependency on the Soviet Union, Castro also ignored the day-to-day needs ofthe people (Smaldone, 1996). (1994, April 1). Journal of Interamerican Studies & WorldAffairs. The economicprosperity was only enjoyed by a few and was not sufficient to placate therevolutionary ideals being heightened by the unfulfilled expectations of alarge sector of Cuban society. More than half of the population in Cuba today was bornafter the Revolution in 1959, making it difficult for them to understandthe elements of pre-revolutionary Cuba that led to support for Castro(Sanchez, 1996). Fidel Castro, the son of Spanish sugarplanters, had led several unsuccessful revolts against the government inCuba and had been arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Weiss, R. References Horowitz, I.L. Although some attemptsto improve the economy have been made, they will require time to succeed. Observations on the Cuban Revolution.Monthly Review: An Independent Socialist Magazine. The governmenthas permitted the dollar to circulate, made large investments in tourism,continued to diversify production in its domestic and export economy, andlegalized private activity in the service sector; but many of these reformsare controversial because they contradict the original aims of therevolution--social equality, solidarity, and willingness to sacrifice(Smaldone, 1996). Cuba, Castro, and the post-Communistworld. Overall, Batista's dictatorship was characterized by prosperity but itcame at a price. connection and produced anxiety for manyCubans who now felt isolated and uncertain about their values (Weiss,1995). The country was fertile ground forpolitical activism despite Batista's repressive political-militarygovernment. Thesestrategies have, for the most part, been used to create the ideal Cubancitizen--one who was unselfish, self-sacrificing, frugal, and socialized,and whose training would be achieved through education, mobilization, andmoral incentives. Castro has recently employed several stopgap measures such asrationing and replacing mechanized transport with animal transport and hasmanaged to keep the economy afloat and avert social upheaval (Smaldone,1996). It has been isolated from the Organizationof American states and other agencies and from most of the rest of theworld and it lost a powerful psychological and economic leader in theSoviet Union (Weiss, 1995). Also, Castro has grudgingly introduced capitalist reforms that areintended to move the country toward a market-driven system. From the earliest days, the revolutionary government dedicated itselfto upgrading the Cuban educational system, especially the literacycampaign. Education became compulsory and all but a few private schoolswere taken back by the government. Severe shortages of basic items suchas food, fuel, clothing, and soap consistently plague the population andare due, to some degree, to a planning process that is overly centralized(Smaldone, 1996). Castro's regime has made serious mistakes since it took power almostforty years ago. Journal of Arts Management, Law & Society. In terms of the crisis of ideology, few peoplein the post-revolutionary generation believe in the ideology that propelledthe revolution. reconnaissance plane over their airspace and the alliance between thetwo countries only escalated the tensions (Montaner, 1994). The crisis of leadership is one that Cubamust also face. The Revolution has been viewed by someas a complex and evolving social phenomenon and by others as anexternalization of Castro's somewhat psychotic personality. Itreached into neighborhoods, keeping constant vigilance against possibleenemies. The political and economic life of early twentieth-century Cuba wasdependent on a powerful planter class and on foreign support, thus creatinga lopsided society of privileges. Smaldone, W. (1995, March 1). Castro declared himself a Marxist-Leninist in1961 and a new revolutionary phase unfolded as the Revolution attempted toapply a Soviet-style system or organization and planning to its efforts(Sanchez, 1996). The black marketthrives and robberies and muggings, especially against foreigners, arebecoming commonplace (Weiss, 1995). Cuba soon nationalized all United Statesenterprises operating in the country and all dissidents were scorned andlinked to United States interests. Cuba's present is unsettled and its future is uncertain. Rural electrification, the construction of medical clinics andhospitals, the redistribution of wealth, and the expansion of theeducational system have raised the standard of living for the population(Jorge, 1994). Even Castroacknowledges that the country's gross national product today is more orless the same as it was before the revolution. How will the revolution continue whenCastro is no longer able to personify it? New Brunswick,NJ: Transaction Publishers. Rather than allowing discourse on the idea of Perestroika, Cubaadopted a position of disassociation and decided that he would no longerfollow Soviet ideology so stridently (Sanchez, 1996). The crisis of morale in Cuba is also growing. After realizing that he would not win in an election, Batista tookpower in a bloodless coup in March 1952 with the help of his militaryfriends. The institutional crisis is a result of the fact that therevolution is totally represented by one man--Fidel Castro--and thedeclining memberships of the mass associations that were developed to leadthe revolution (Wiarda, 1995). For almost 25 years, a shrewd armysergeant, Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar, ruled Cuba and made it a veritableparadise for foreigners and their business interests. An objectless revolution: Cuba's nominalSocialism as a personal project. The Revolution continued its massive reshaping of Cuba'spolitical and economic life. The Cuban Revolution and its acolytes.Society. By the end of 1958, Castro and his supporters were burstingout of hiding and, with his army deserting in droves, Batista fled intoexile on January 1, 1959. Long blackouts arefrequent in Havana to conserve scarce electricity. Thecountry's crisis is complex and includes a crisis of ideology,institutions, society, leadership, economy, morale, and internationalrelations (Wiarda, 1995). Corruption and nepotism, which had enriched some groupswhile allowing the rest of the population to grow poorer, continued to beimportant ingredients in the island country's prosperity. As time went on, the revolutionary process grew more radical. Journal of Interamerican Studies & World Affairs. He suspended the constitution, placed his men in themost important military posts, dissolved all political parties and createdhis own political process. Resistanceand activism, which continued to grow in Cuba during Batista's rule, led tomore frequent and often harsh repression by the dictatorship. It soon became clear that, despite therevolutionary government's repression of certain individuals andorganizations and antagonism of the propertied classes, it had kept itspromises to the underprivileged masses that had rallied behind it(Montaner, 1994). Wiarda, H.J. Few political organizations from the pre-revolutionary days were allowed to continue to operate and theireffectiveness was limited by Castro's revolutionary elite. (199 , February 4). By the late 194 s, the Cuban people had lost faith in theirgovernment and corruption had become rampant at all levels of government,setting the tone for the elections of 1952 (Horowitz, 1989). Many Cubansbegan to view Batista as a profit seeker who had halted the development ofdemocracy and had traded wealth for a few for the freedom of many. However, thoseproblems that afflicted the East block, such as shortages of consumergoods, corruption, and an oppressive state apparatus, are no different thatthose that afflict Cuba. Met with bad weather and a counterattack by Batista'sforces, many were killed or captured and Castro, his brother and CheGuevara disappeared into hiding. Castro's revolutionary forces were ableto embody popular aspirations and the revolution gained popularity withmany Cubans. Castro and 'new thinking' in LatinAmerica. A terrible economic crisis, theconstant reminders of Fidel Castro's age and mortality, serious indicationsthat many of the revolution's goals are as far away from being accomplishedas they were in 1958, and the rising disillusionment and cynicism of theCuban people all indicate that the country's socialist revolution--the mostthorough and radical in twentieth-century Latin America--is failing. Cuban Communism (7th ed.). In December 1956 they attempted another revolt and landed aboat in Cuba. Tourism is up but these tourists have access to specialitems that Cubans cannot get. The revolutionary government strengthened its ties with China afterSoviet-Cuban relations were strained by the missile crisis and beganincorporating some of their revolutionary strategies as well. At the same time, however, housing and building maintenance has beenneglected, the transportation and communications infrastructure are interrible shape and, although one of the Revolution's first goals was todiversify the country's economic base, Cuba's economy remains largelydependent on sugar production for foreign exchange. Earlyrevolutionary policies were formulated in response to the expectations ofthe middle sectors of Cuba, which had backed the struggle against Batista.These policies included land reform, the improvement of salaries toworkers, creating less dependence on sugar production, the regulation offoreign enterprises, and administrative reform. (1994, July 1). Health care was another issueconcentrated on by the new government, which built a new network of freehealth clinics for Cubans. From the mid-196 s through the present day, Castro has employed a variety of radical andcontroversial strategies that have usually fallen somewhere between theSoviet model and the Chinese model. Cuba lost $4 billion in annual Soviet subsidies and 7 percent of itstrade, forcing it into a major economic transition involving partialprivatization, and an attempt to find success in the world economy thatwill enable the country to maintain its health and educational programs andthe public ownership of industry (Smaldone, 1996). Cuba is alsofacing an international crisis. Even Castro's opponents usually concede that Cuba has made impressivegains in alleviating rural poverty and providing education and health carefor all. The fall of Batista left a political vacuum that could not be filledby traditional means since most other political groups and leaders had beenneutralized throughout his regime. The Soviet Union established diplomaticrelations with Cuba just days after announcing that they had shot down aU.S. With Castro facing his seventies and the unpopularity ofhis brother and likely heir Raul, the future of Cuba's leadership looksbleak. During Batista's rule, Cuba became a havenfor corruption and black marketeers. The next day Guevara and Castro took Havana withthe help of approximately 6 revolutionaries (Montaner, 1994). The self-sacrifice thathas been encouraged by the Revolution is becoming less appealing to the oldgeneration and was never really bought by the new generation. The controversial nature of these reformefforts will certainly bring new social tensions to Cuba. One of Castro's biggest mistakes recently has been his basic rejectionof Gorbachevian reforms. Time, however, is one more thing that the Cuban people may befacing a shortage of. Twenty years of political development in Cubacame suddenly to a halt and it was evident that the next several yearswould be dominated by a military dictatorship (Horowitz, 1989). Sanchez, R. Theprospects for Cuba's continued international focus are also bleak and, oncethe goal of this international mission is lost, Cubans may look around andreally discover the great price in material progress that Cuba has paid forthe sake of Castro's personal glory. The advent of perestroika in the Soviet Unionchallenged the Cuba-U.S.S.R. As the economy continues to contract and the Cubanpeople feel the repercussions and as Castro grows older and more feeble,the contradictions and difficulties of the regime will only grow worse. (ed.)(1989). Services were improved andextended to the whole population. Because of his past record with international interests, Batistaquickly gained recognition for his government from non-communist nationsthroughout the world. Relations between Cuba and the U.S.went from mutual uncertainty during the first period of the Revolution allthe way to the a complete rupture of relations, represented by the missilecrisis and later by the embargo. Cuba will certainly continue to feel the changethat has swept through the Communist bloc. Newsday. (1996, March 6). It seems likely that the socialsystem Castro created may be viewed in retrospect more as an interestingoccurrence on the road to democracy in Latin America rather than theinnovation of the century. The U.S. (1995, April 1). That Cuba has survived the crisis of the last five years is atestimony to the strength of its people and the tenacity of its leadership. Asubsequent declaration of general amnesty by Batista had allowed the returnof several exiled members of the opposition, including Castro and some ofhis followers. On a per capital basis, itranked third in the hemisphere in 1958 and now it is considered one of thepoorest countries in Latin America (Kline, 199 ). A major setback for Marxism. Without Soviet aid,Cuba lost not only direct cash assistance but also the oil and fertilizerthat give it the ability to import sugar (Smaldone, 1996). Phones in Havana werenot operational for a year and a half in the early 199 s (Weiss, 1995).Roads are often empty, the result of the end of trade in oil with theSoviet Union. Jorge, A. The long process of getting to the nearestedge of the world. By theend of the 195 s, the breakdown of Cuba's authoritarian regime was eminent(Horowitz, 1989). (1996, April 2). Several majorsegments of society opposed Batista--namely the poor, the laborers, thecommunists, and the old political and intellectual opposition. The public transport system has often been brought to itsknees by the lack of fuel and replacement parts. Problems of Post-Communism. Kline, M.

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