1. REVOLUTION Cuba’s Communist Revolution

2. When do Revolutions Happen? In Latin America revolutions happen when… … a structurally weak regime… … meets a guerilla opposition force … … which garners popular support: Wickham-Crowley, 1992 Guerrillas and Revolution in Latin America Revolutionary Outcomes  Political Enfranchisement  Mode of Production and Property  Class Relations  Foreign Relations

3. A structurally weak regime… Fulgencio Batista (1952–58)  Personalized rule  Batista power in 1952 in a military coup, then ran unopposed in a “democratic” election in 1954  Distance from civil society  Batista’s rule was supported by a small political and military elite within Cuba and by strong US financial and military aid  Cross-class opposition  Resentment of US and mafia infiltration of Cuban society and economy  Suspension of the 1940 constitution  Violent repression of dissent by military police  Divided military support

4. … meets a guerilla opposition force …  Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro, Che Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos; Frank País  Local revolutionary leaders were crucial  Mobilizing ideals  Social justice  Nationalism  Democracy

5. (guerilla opposition cont.) #1: The Landing 2 Dec 1956 #2: Escape to the Sierra Maestra: 1956 – 1958 #3: The Offensive: Aug – Dec 1958 #4: Victory in Havana: 2 Jan 1959 #1 #4 #3 #2

6. … which garners popular support. Popular dislike of the Batista regime  Labor union strikes and land invasions in 1958 and 1959 reflected both revolutionary activity and economic and social dissatisfaction  Peasant support  Invoked Jose Martí: violent opposition to social injustice

7. Revolutionary Outcomes.  Political Enfranchisement  Universal suffrage, age 16  Political Parties: Cuban Communist Party or PCC  Legislature: National Assembly of People's Power - members elected to five-year terms directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions  Executive: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers - elected by the National Assembly for five year term; last election 24/2/2008, Raul Castro Ruz unanimously elected  Judicial: People's Supreme Court - president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly; a mix of communist legal theory, Spanish civil law, and American influence

8. Castro’s Cuba  Mode of Production and Property  Development of a triple economy State-owned enterprise Export enclave Informal market sector  Land reform The amount of land held in independent farms of 67 or more hectares dropped from 71% in 1950 to 5.1% in 1970 By 1981 only 9% of arable land was privately held

9. Castro’s Cuba  Class Relations  Capitalist class and bourgeoisie were largely wiped out  Land reform rewards the rural social base  Social justice programs serve to equalize economic disparities  Infant mortality rate 1949: 39 deaths/1,000 (est.) 2008: 5.93 deaths/1,000 (est.)  Life expectancy 1955: 59 years (est.) 2008: 77.27 years (est.)  Literacy: 1958: 78% (est.) 2002: 99.8%

10. Castro’s Cuba  Foreign Relations  International activism is an inherent aspect of Marxist revolution  From US client to Soviet client state  The demise of the USSR led to an economic downturn in the 1990s and to economic liberalization  Castro believes that the long term interests of the US and Cuba are basically incompatible

11. Castro’s Cuba Institutionalization of Changes  “The destiny of peoples cannot depend upon one man. Behind me come others more radical than I; assassinating me would only fortify the revolution.”  The transition to Raul Castro

12. Questions What are the major factors shaping revolutionary outcomes? Is revolution a good thing?