Back from the future: Cuba under Castro Lauren Mora Frida Soria

The Limits and Possibilities of Socialism Chapter 1 The Limits and Possibilities of Socialism

Contextual Factors affecting State Policy Options The weight of the past, such colonial heritage, limits what a leader can do in their country Global, geopolitical, political and economic dynamics influence what decisions are taken and what can be done Formal and informal state dynamics can limit the capabilities of a leader Pressure from civil society, such as resistance, can weaken a government or leader.

Ideology as a force sui generis under state socialism State socialist regimes have based their claims to legitimacy on Marxist-Leninist moral principles. The basis for policy selection isn’t necessarily rooted in those principles. Elites can have their own individual or institutional reasons for policy initiatives, while subordinates may not internalize the beliefs, values and ideologies propagated by the elite. The principles of leaders or elites may generate their own contradictions or problems, such as public principles not being interpreted the way propaganda meant it to be. The relationships between ideology and social structure give reason that Marxist-Leninist legitimated regimes may have been less ideologically driven over the years than portrayed in the study of communism.

Historical roots of the Cuban Revolution With Fulgencio Batista seizing power as the new dictator in 1952, Fidel Castro led an attack on the Moncada barracks on July 26, 1953. The attack led to imprisonment and then to exile in Mexico, where Castro met Che Guevara. Together they and their guerilla allies sailed to Cuba in 1956 for an attack similar to the one at Moncada. Survivors established a base of operations in Oriente Province, where Castro’s army launched their movement of Batista’s overthrow. The movement was built on nationalist and populist concerns dating back to the revolution, and involved peasants and urban people; as well as priests of a popular Afro-Cuban syncretic religion. Castro’s astute manipulation of a potentially “revolutionary situation” and his charismatic appeal explains his mass support for overthrowing Batista and then for his sociopolitical transformation.

State Transformation Under Castro Castro used Charisma and the party of disciples to gain support and change the Cuban people. State-society relations were formed with things such as organizations and acceptance of limited art and religion Formal organs of government and informal dynamics of governance changed in Cuba.