Castro Assessment / Essay Questions

► Assessment: ► Political – not much better than under Batista: left wing, single-party dictatorship / totalitarianism replaced right….repression, no freedom of speech, press, elections…..Communist / Castroite regime ► Economic – mixed; more failures than successes; dependent on USSR, but flexibility since 1991….market socialism, to Command Economy, and back….foreign investment, and diversification ► Social – rise in standard of living (always relative), better services (education, health), equality of opportunity, role of women minorities, redistribution of wealth…but much poverty still…. ► Foreign Policy World Events – anti-imperialism; opposed to US interference: major role, beyond its importance, in Cold War events in : minor role only in insignificant places after that: waste of resources? Noble to have such a big Peace Corps

► Keen is complimentary of social reforms and ability of regime to rectify / evolve politically towards liberalization and towards a more open economy ► He argues that Communism / Change / Revolution was not imposed on Cuba as in Eastern Europe, was created by an indigenous Popular Revolution that linked the ideals of socialism and independence, and still enjoys overwhelming popular support ► He argues that in spite of economic problems, the Cuban Revolution has a record of social achievement without parallel in Latin Am history. ► Bourne and Dominquez are complimentary of social reforms, critical of economic and political performance.

► Hugh Thomas is critical of almost everything Castro has done, esp. totalitarian political system, and economic performance: he concedes there is improvement in health and education but “still the question remains as to whether these things are worth the sacrifice of freedom.” ► Robert Quirk argues that Castro has become irrelevant (nice that he overthrew Batista, stood up to the US etc. but now does more harm than good). “He had stayed too long. At the Moncada trial he had prophesized that history would vindicate him. Forty or so years later, history had passed him by. As his people desperately contemplated disaster, he waited stubbornly for the miracle that would save him, searched for just one more panacea. By all appearances the Maximum Leader would see Cuba destroyed, before he gave up his power and his prerogatives.”

► Tad Szulc writes that since around 1980 Castro has had “few fresh ideas for his aging revolution. Curiously this man of astonishing daring and imagination and romanticism is allowing – or forcing – his beloved social and human experiment to be locked into obsolete ideological orthodoxy and deadening bureaucratization.” ► “Cuba is certainly not the kind of utopia that Fidel thought he could create. On many counts he must be given a failing grade as far as life in Cuba today is concerned.” (Szulc)

► Bourne explains; “Part of the problem was his preoccupation with the expansion of Communism to other Latin American countries – Guatemala, Chile, Granada. He wants to thrust himself on the world stage, he desires historical stature – which involves a huge commitment of resources and manpower. Most Cubans would probably be willing to trade some of the international prestige Fidel has brought to them for even a modest improvement in their standard of living.”

► IB Questions ► Essay Test next Tuesday ► Rise to Power of Castro (we already did Castro) compared and contrasted with Stalin ► Stalin’s rise to power ► Castro in Power  Longevity of his rule – why?  Successes and failures of his Economic and Social Policies  Evaluate his political policies  Assess his foreign policies – goals, successes, failures: factor in the Cold War ► To what extent has Castro fulfilled the promises of his Revolution?