Cuba

Texts used: Skidmore & Samuel Farber

Was the driving force of the Cuban Revolution from above or below?

• Base for social revolution & class struggle has all along been closely managed & controlled from the top.
• Urban pop. at the beginning accounted for majority of Castro membership & participated in most dangerous activities of the 26^th July Movement.
• Most rebels, like Fidel, were from the middle class, made up especially of university-educated professionals who faced bleak job prospects in Cuba’s stagnant economy. (Skidmore).
• Some observers claim that mass pressures from below played an important role in driving the Cuban Revolution. According to Farber (2006), this is not credible as there was little rural or urban turmoil in 1959-60.
• Working class was organized into TUs that were bureaucratic and corrupt, making it difficult for this class to play a significant role in the struggle against Batista.
• Organized working class suffered under double dictatorship; TU corrupt leadership & Batista. Without autonomous organizations, workers became atomized. As workers increasingly turned against the Batista dictatorship, they did so as individual citizens rather than of a collective working-class.
  

Are the successes of the revolutionary movement and the maintenance of Castro’s power due to Fidel’s charismatic leadership and skilful tactics?

• Yes – While other Anti-Batista groups suffered fatal defeats, Castro’s movement had many more successes than failures. Castro had fulfilled his promise to return – illegally landing in Cuba in 1956 – contributing to the building of his mystique among the population.
• Castro eventually defeated the Batista army in a number of skirmishes & ambushes.
• The Sierra Maestra base Castro built prospered militarily & politically, especially with the establishment of Radio Rebelde (radio station telling the truth about rebel victories & defeats).
• Cumulative effect of the growth of the guerrillas resulted in ascending hegemony of Castro & his 26^th July Movement.
• Castro’s leadership made a major difference to the Cuban Revolution. His skilful political intervention helped to prevent a military coup that might have at least delayed the disintegration of Batista’s army.
• A strategic & tactical continuity existed in Castro’s leadership; he maintained the political initiative, remaining adequately ahead of mass sentiment, and he made temporary ideological/political accommodations to supporters/allies without surrendering any political control. 
• Castro maintained personal control over the 26^th July Movement by discouraging any effort made to turn the Movement into a regular party.
• Castro adopted mechanism of control from above even when he didn’t need to (could still succeed through democratic means), thus reinforcing his power & control. E.g. November 1959 Castro imposes a much greater Communist leadership than necessary, taking out leaders and replacing them with his people. He was enjoying such great support that he could have done this via elections rather than force, as he would of undoubtedly won. However, he did not want unions to retain their autonomy (instead of being mere policy tools).
• Castro obtained an overwhelming amount of support by using executions of war criminals to show public their trust would not be betrayed again, he used revolutionary police force’s lack of abusive behaviour to gain support fro all classes, esp poor & working class, opening of beaches to all public and reduction of rents by as much as 50% in 1959 also gained mass support.
• No – Total collapse of the traditional Cuban Army, which fell apart plagued by desertion & corruption when fighting the rebel army. This was a result of its own weaknesses (corrupt institution with no solid social base or ideological/political motivation) rather than because of Castro & his army.
• This collapse was necessary for the development of the social revolution.
• The Miami Pact (included the establishment of a prov govt with the understanding that Cuban economist Pazos would become prov president) saw Pazos act as a free agent – he hadn’t obtained Castro’s approval for the Miami Pact. This shows Castro did not have absolute control – yet after finding out, Castro demanded & won sole authority to nominate the future president & to keep “public order” after the Batista overthrow.
• There was desperate desire for change among Cubans – the most restless & most important sectors was the middle class. They were disgusted by the old political cadre, they were moved by appeals for greater social justice & they longed for a more independent Cuba. This contributed greatly in allowing Castro his power & control. (Skidmore). 

How has Castro managed to suppress capitalism in his country? To what extent is capitalism still suppressed in Cuba?

• Castro & Che’s association with the development of a new man – a new consciousness that was moral & detached from consumerism (linked with the corruptness of American influence and people in power). (lecture notes)
• Led to Castro taking control of the media, dissolving presidential & PM posts, taking control for himself. This led to a US embargo which allowed for the nationalization of American goods & services. (lecture notes)
• Establishment of the CDRs to suppress any opposition mounting to revolution. (lecture notes)
• Clash with US over oil in 1960s (Castro wanted US-owned refineries to process cheaper Russian crude), US refused so Castro confiscated the companies. US then retaliates by suspending Cuban sugar quota, so Castro seizes virtually all the rest of US property – nationalizing all major firms. (Skidmore)
• February 1960 – Cuba signs trade agreement with Soviets – developing an alternative source of technology & equipment. Soviets thus get ready to integrate Cuba as a ‘socialist’ ally, thus repressing capitalism. (Skidmore).
• Communist Party was only party to survive revolutionary transition, showing a strong ‘communist’ belief existed in society. (Skidmore)
• 1961 Castro declares himself a Marxist-Leninist, determined to attack the legacy of the corrupt, capitalist Cuba. (Skidmore)
• 1968 ‘revolutionary offensive’ – remainder of private sector is nationalized & consumption was subordinated to investment. (Skidmore)
• Through education & training, Castro pushed the egalitarian, communitarian ideal. (Skidmore)