Decades of Socialism

Three main ideological positions are behind the debate over current changes in Cuba: the statist position, which seeks to perfect a top-down, state socialism; the economicist position, which defends market socialism; and the self-managementist position, which favors democratic socialism and worker participation in company decision making.

Why Cuba? Why Socialism? Why such main ideology?

A Glance in Tranquility Wins...!

Independence

Cuba first started to fight for its independence from Spain in 1868 in the Ten Years War. Led by national hero Jose Marti, the war for independence again became heated in 1895. In 1898 the United States became involved in the war when one of its battleships, the USS Maine, was sunk. The US gained control of Cuba with the Treaty of Paris and, in 1902, gave Cuba independence.

The Dictator Vs Fidel

In 1952, a former president of Cuba named Fulgencio Batista took control of the country and made himself dictator. Many of the people of Cuba were not happy with this. Rebel leader Fidel Castro organized a revolution to overthrow Batista. In 1959, Fidel Castro was able to overthrow Batista's government and gain control of the country. He declared Cuba a socialist country and allied Cuba with the Soviet Union.

The turn

Cuba became a major player in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. First, the United States unsuccessfully tried to overthrow Castro through the Bay of Pigs invasion. Then, the Soviet Union tried to establish a nuclear missile base at Cuba causing the Cuban Missile Crisis.Fidel Castro remained in power for 50 years and then handed over the government to his younger brother Raul.

Socialism

Cuba’s experience of socialism has its own specific characteristics, which we must situate historically in order to properly understand their implications. The Cuban Revolution and its aftermath can help us think about the relationship between socialism and democrace and how that relationship is reflected in Cuba’s contemporary political difficulties and the possibilities for a new left-wing politics on the island and in the larger region.

The shift

The constituent process for the constitution took place after the exit of Raúl Castro, who had succeeded Fidel Castro as the president of Cuba in 2006. The shift in political leadership under new president Miguel Díaz-Canel, the changes in the country, and a crisis of the left across Latin America, signal new possibilities for Cuba.

What is your view on socialism?