1. *How did Castro establish his power between 1959-1975? *What measures were taken after 1975 to further consolidate Castro´s power? * What other methods did Castro use to consolidate his power?

2.  M. Urrutia (president), Jose Miro Cardona ( PM)  F. Castro ( military commander-in-chief)  The ORPV ( office of the revolutionary plans and co- ordination)  The cabinet → Cardona dismissed; Castro became PM - Suspension of elections, Agrarian reform→ INRA (national institute of agrarian reform) was set up→ later INRA became the effective government - moderate cabinet members resigned, Urrutia was forced to leave the presidency→ Oswaldo Dortigos the new president up to 1975

3.  From 1960 onwards - Press ”was brought into line” - Centralisation: the cabinet took the legislative and executive powers - From 1968 closer relations with the USSR→ structures and institutions developed along Soviet system - Collective resposibility - Communist party enlarged ( in 1965 /50 000 members, by 1980 500 000 members, 9 % of all Cuban citizens over 25 years)

4.  Matos ( one of the leading figures of the revolution)  Urrutia  Escalante, a communist leader ( ORI, integrated revolutionary organisations = The 26 movement, PSP, DR- revolutionary leaders)  Between 1960-66 counter-revolutionary guerilla war against Castro ( supported by USA)→ opposition defeated by 1966  According to US senate reports, the CIA´s second largest station in the wolrd was based in Florida - 600 plans to assassinate Castro ” no country has suffered from terrorism as long and consistently as Cuba” ( Balfour S, 2009)

5.  Federation of Universtity Students  The trade Unions ; in 1970 opposition against poor productivity→ Castro admitted mistakes and argued for more democratic reforms

6.  Established in 1965 from ORI, not a mass party  in 1972 reformed; a 100 strong central comittee, politburo and secretariat  Between 1965 and 1968 some traditional communists tried to challenge Castro´s approach, result was their elimination and by 1968 Castro´s control was complete

7.  New constitution 1976 ( economic problems, opposition..)  Identity the new constitution of 1976  Rectification campaign 1986-87 ( against errors and negative trends) -Juceplan ( going back to centralization) - against corruption, bureaucrats, technocrats.. The Ochoa Affair, 1989 Aldana, 1992 purge ( against liberal policies), 1992 new constitution

8.  US´role  Varela Project, early 2000  Mass organisations  Committees for defence of the revolution  Emigration and exile  Castroism

9.  Saney; the role of the workers´assemblies on the decision making  Spalding; influence of the PCC was suffocating  Roman: The party does not meddle in the operation of people´s power  Bengelsdorf; Cuban citizens exercise political sovereignity