Background
- The Cuban Revolution (1959) brought Fidel Castro to power after overthrowing U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.
- Castro’s early goals were economic independence, social reform, and national sovereignty after decades of U.S. dominance in Cuban affairs.
- Relations with the United States quickly deteriorated when Castro nationalized U.S.-owned businesses and allied with the Soviet Union.
- Cuba’s policies were shaped by Cold War dynamics: resisting U.S. influence while promoting socialist ideals across Latin America and Africa.
Definition
Nationalization
- When a government takes control of private industries or property, usually to strengthen national sovereignty.
Domestic Policies and Their Implementation
- Economic Policies
- The government implemented agrarian reform (1959), redistributing land to peasants and cooperatives.
- Cuba developed a centrally planned economy, relying heavily on sugar exports to the Soviet Union for aid and trade.
- The U.S. embargo (1960) isolated Cuba economically, making it dependent on Soviet support.
- Economic successes included free healthcare and education, but shortages and inefficiencies led to hardship.
- Social Policies
- The regime prioritized universal education and literacy campaigns, reducing illiteracy from around 20% to less than 5% by 1961.
- Health services were nationalized, creating one of the most comprehensive systems in Latin America.
- However, political repression, limited free speech, and the absence of democratic elections defined the system.
Definition
Planned Economy
- An economic system controlled by the government, which determines production and distribution of goods.
Case study
Fidel Castro (1959–1991)
Rise to Power and Revolutionary Goals
- Fidel Castro came to power in 1959 after leading the Cuban Revolution that overthrew U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.
- His movement, the 26th of July Movement, promised land reform, national independence, and social justice.
- Initially, Castro sought U.S. recognition, but relations collapsed after he nationalized American-owned industriesand accepted Soviet aid.
Domestic Reforms and Control
- Castro implemented wide agrarian reform, breaking up large estates and redistributing land to peasants.
- Created free education and healthcare systems, dramatically improving literacy and life expectancy.
- Suppressed opposition through censorship, political imprisonment, and a one-party state, justifying these measures as protection against U.S. aggression.
- His government emphasized social equality, especially in rural areas, but at the cost of personal freedoms.
Foreign Policy and Global Influence
- Castro aligned with the Soviet Union, securing economic aid and military protection during the Cold War.
- Cuba became a symbol of anti-imperialism, sending troops to support revolutionary movements in Africa and Latin America (e.g., Angola in 1975).
- The U.S. trade embargo (1960) and repeated CIA assassination attempts reinforced Cuba’s isolation but strengthened Castro’s nationalist image.
- His role in the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) placed Cuba at the center of superpower tensions, solidifying his status as a global revolutionary figure.
Foreign Policies and Global Involvement
- Soviet Alliance and Military Relations
- Cuba joined the Soviet bloc, receiving billions in aid and weapons in exchange for loyalty and sugar exports.
- The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) made Cuba a global flashpoint, strengthening its security ties with the USSR.
- Revolutionary Export and Regional Influence
- Castro supported left-wing revolutions in Latin America and Africa, sending troops and aid to Angola and Ethiopia in the 1970s.
- The goal was to spread anti-imperialist movements and oppose U.S. influence in the developing world.
- Post-Soviet Adaptation
- After the collapse of the USSR (1991), Cuba entered a deep economic crisis known as the “Special Period.”
- The government adopted limited market reforms while maintaining one-party control.
Definition
Non-alignment
- A foreign policy approach that avoids formal alliance with major power blocs.
Common Mistake
- Treating Cuba as just a Soviet satellite, rather than analyzing its own goals of independence and revolutionary identity.
- Ignoring domestic achievements (healthcare, education) when focusing on foreign relations.
- Overlooking the role of U.S. hostility and embargo in shaping Cuba’s domestic and foreign choices.
Exam technique
- Divide essays clearly between domestic and foreign policy, showing how one influenced the other.
- Use specific examples (Bay of Pigs 1961, Missile Crisis 1962, Angola intervention 1975) to demonstrate continuity and change.
- Conclude with evaluation: How successful was Cuba in balancing independence, socialism, and survival under superpower pressure?
Theory of Knowledge
- Perspective and Power: How do ideology and propaganda shape what is considered “freedom” or “independence”?
- Knowledge and Morality: Can human rights violations be justified by claims of social progress?
- Bias in History: How do U.S. and Cuban sources portray the same events differently?
Self review
- To what extent did the Cold War shape Cuba’s domestic and foreign policies between 1959 and 1991?
- Assess the success of Cuba’s efforts to promote socialism at home and revolution abroad during the Cold War.
- Examine how far U.S. hostility, rather than ideology, determined the direction of Cuban foreign policy after 1959.
