Conditions for the Rise to Power of Fidel Castro: Political, Economic and Social
- For the rise to power of Castro, the period 1953-1959 is the one considered by IB and you should focus on events within that period.
- Nevertheless, it is fundamental to understand the conditions in which he made his bid for power and was eventually successful.
Political and Economic Dependency
- Cuba got its independence in 1898, after Spain’s defeat in the Spanish–American War.
- This means that Cuba’s independence movement, led by José Martí, was only able to secure independence from Spain with the aid of the US.
- Because of this, Cuba became a nominally independent republic, but was under significant U.S. control via the Platt Amendment (1901), allowing U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs.
- This external domination bred nationalist resentment.
- Because of this lack of true independence, Cuba’s economy relied almost entirely on sugar exports to the U.S., making it highly vulnerable to market fluctuations.
- The monoculture economy consolidated dependency: Cuba was devoted to sugar cane production, preventing industrialization and cementing Cuban poverty and American domination.
- U.S. companies dominated key sectors, from sugar plantations to utilities, leaving Cuba economically dependent and politically subordinated.
- By the 1950s, U.S. companies owned nearly 70% of Cuban arable land, 90% of the telephone and electricity services, and 50% of the railways.
- They also controlled 40% of the sugar production and 25% of bank deposits.
- Major corporations like United Fruit and ITT dominated key industries.
- This economic dominance fueled resentment among Cubans, who viewed U.S. influence as a neocolonial holdover that benefited elites
- This left much of the population in poverty and dependent on foreign interests.
- The Platt Amendment (1901) was a key provision imposed by the the US and incorporated into the Cuban constitution.
- It allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban domestic affairs and control foreign policy and finances. It also granted the U.S. the right to lease naval bases, most notably Guantánamo Bay.
- Though Cuba was officially independent in 1902, the amendment effectively made it a U.S. protectorate.
- This undermined Cuban sovereignty and fueled nationalist resentment.
U.S. investment in Cuba’s hospitality sector and the Volstead Act (Prohibition)
- The Volstead Act (1919), which enforced Prohibition in the U.S., inadvertently boosted American investment in Cuba’s hospitality sector.
- As alcohol was banned at home, wealthy Americans turned to Havana, just 90 miles from Florida, for legal drinking, gambling, and leisure.
- This demand led to rapid development of American-owned hotels, nightclubs, and casinos, especially in Havana’s Vedado district. By the 1950s, U.S. investors owned over 50% of Cuba’s tourist infrastructure, including iconic establishments like the Hotel Nacional.
- U.S. organized crime syndicates, such as those led by Meyer Lansky, capitalized on Batista’s corrupt regime (see below) to establish a lucrative gambling and vice industry in Havana.
- These ventures catered to U.S. tourists, with profits flowing back to American investors and mob figures.
- Meanwhile, most Cubans remained economically marginalized, further deepening resentment and fueling support for revolutionary movements.
Social Inequality
- Despite pockets of prosperity, most rural Cubans lived in poverty, with limited access to healthcare, education, or electricity.
- Seasonal unemployment and illiteracy were widespread in the countryside, fueling popular discontent.
- Although Cuba produced other crops like tobacco, coffee, and rice, none matched the economic dominance of sugar.
- Sugar accounted for up to 80% of export earnings in the 1950s.
- However, sugar cultivation and harvesting were highly seasonal, concentrated between January and May.
- The intense labor demand during harvest was followed by months of near-total unemployment.
- Particularly for manual laborers and rural workers.
- Alternative employment was scarce because Cuba lacked agricultural diversification and industrial development.
- Most small farmers couldn't switch crops or rely on state support, and mechanization further reduced year-round work opportunities.
- As a result, many laborers lived in cyclical poverty, with no stable income or access to healthcare, housing, or education.
- Illiteracy and poverty in Cuba before the Revolution
- Before the revolution, Cuba’s literacy rate was about 76%, but rural illiteracy reached 40–50%.
- While urban literacy was among the highest in Latin America, the rural-urban divide was stark.
- Despite overall prosperity, rural poverty was widespread: 60–70% lacked clean water, electricity, or healthcare; only 10% of homes had electricity and 4% running water.
- Inequality was severe, with the top 10% controlling 40% of income while the bottom 20% earned under 5%.
- As you can see, the majority in Cuba lived in extremely bad conditions.
- Also, the masses saw how the US and elites linked to US interests thrived.
- But is that enough to create a crisis state and a revolution?
- Don’t forget that the basis for the Cuban dependency had been set up in the early 20th C, and the Revolution was only successful in 1959.
- The fact that there are reasons for discontent does not automatically mean that people will get organized and act against the established order.
