Ch. VI A Maximum of Ruralism, A Minimum of Urbanism By: Citlalli Prado John Gutierrez Angelique Pol John: First Citlalli: Second Angelique: Third

From Idealism to Realism Castro was concerned himself with rural/urban inequities. Urbanization in Latin America and the industrialized West differed from one another. In Latin America, the rates of city growth increased as well as industrialization. Cuba began to have less labor force because it became dependent on foreign capital and technology. Only a few Cubans were able to hold onto their jobs. Those who kept their jobs got no social benefits, got paid poorly, and many Cubans had to live in terrible quarters that were filthy, and unhygienic

Continued Many rural Cubans began to move towards Latin American cities, due to bad conditions they were living in. Rural conditions got worse by the minute, which caused population to decrease and extreme demands of labor. Due to these consequences it caused: Rapid demographic growth Urbanization that outpaces the expansion of industrial jobs Proliferation of squatter settlements Widespread poverty and dependence of labor force which offers no economic or social security.

Continued II Cuba’s Socialists might try to resolve some of these problems by: Improving rural conditions so that pressures to migrate are less Improve urban conditions so that fewer city-dwellers are ill-housed, ill- fed, and without social amenities. Improve the distribution of the benefits of development among socioeconomic groups.

The 1960s “A Maximum of Ruralism, a Minimum of Urbanism”: Idealistic and Pragmatic Before the Cuban Revolution, Cuba was the fourth most urban nation in Latin America. 35% of the population lived in urban areas, and communities that held about 20K inhabitants. One fifth of the Cuban population resided within Havana,Cuba. Havana was a highly concentrated city which was populated Cuba finally became an urbanized city

Continued Reasons why many Cubans moved to Havana: I.) it was the most important city economically II.) 75% of national industry was located there - excluding Sugar III.) 90% of all foreign trade got passed through Havana’s ports IV.) It had an important educational center and the only place that a university.

Continued II -Pre Revolutionary Havana became popular for their corruption, gambling, and prostitution. -A.K.A = “Las Vegas of the Caribbean” known by U.S. tourists - Castro wanted to break to break the rate of urban growth and change the quality of urban and rural life. - In a demographic viewpoint, the revolution served to make Latin America the most urbanized and concentrated regions.

Continued III Castro and his revolutionary purists began outlaw gambling and prostitution Castro’s control started to do the food rationing system, residence permits, and worker identity cards He was able to make provincial living more attractive while the capital became less attractive. In Castro’s 1959 agrarian reform, he rewarded about 100,000 rural Cubans to the rights of land Castro guaranteed farm workers year-round employment

The New Urbanism of the 1970s and Early 1980s The “push for Communism,” became to be a fiasco Both economically and politically - Regardless of what was going on, Castro decided to continue his mini brigade program, which was responsible for 65% of all new housing in 1972-1973 -Alamar - Benign Neglect - Latin American governments tolerated the poor people’s private solutions to their housing needs.

The “Rectification of Urban Errors” In the Latter 1980s The Cuban government tightened control over sales and rentals. Many Cubans began to resent Castro and his mini-brigade program due to the drop of income and other benefits. The mini brigade project became a failure Many buildings during the pre-rectification caused many buildings to become unfinished Havana got problems Overpopulation of unfinished buildings Sewage problems Buildings began to deteriorate

A “Maximum of Ruralism” In the 1990s: Pragmatism Without Idealism The crisis caused by the collapse of the Soviet-bloc Communism and the shortage of foreign exchange, the government increased priority to food production the government tried to de-urbanize the population and further reduce rural/urban differences The Cuban people revolted because the government's announced intention to build 20,000 units in 1991 never materialized. The government gave building for the Pan American Games priority over unfinished dwellings. (Games to be held in 1986) Housing for the Pan American athletes was to be used for tourism after the Games Habaneros responded Destroyed building machinery Stopped working I

Continued Through 1993 rural/urban material diminished not only because agricultural economic opportunities diminished but ALSO because city dwellers were called upon once again to help in agricultural work. Crash Food Program As of May 1991 117,000 Havana residents by the end of 1992 some 500,000 had. Typically they were mobilized through their work centers, which were contacted according to demand by the authorities Workers were happy to do so why ?

To get work merits, or increase prospects of job promotion, to produce food for their work center canteen, to get better meals than in the city, and to stake out possible sources of private, and illicit food supplies for their families in the cities Rural/urban distinctions diminished also as city dwellers took up gardening near where they lived, worked and studied.

Conclusion It allowed Castro to test his powers out by using unconventional ways and by seeing how things will work out in the future. His policies on domestic and global economic conditions changed which led to greater consequences in the end. Castro dreamt of making Cuba a great place but in the end he was unable to accomplish his goal. The End.