Cuba and its Revolution

R.G. Williams

This short essay is a study of Cuba, the Cuban Revolution, and the United States, specifically their history and their politics – before and after the great Revolution of 1959.

The Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro and Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, changed Cuba forever – and clearly inspired the world.1 As an anti-Imperialist revolution, as an anti-colonial revolution, and as a Left-Nationalist revolution, the Cuban Revolution changed Cuban society. As a Socialist Revolution, as a Communist Revolution, and as the first workers’ revolution in Latin American history, the Cuban Revolution changed the world. It also showed that a Socialist Revolution could happen, and succeed, in the Americas – in the Western hemisphere. Fundamentally, however, the crucial basis of the Cuban Revolution was that it was an anti-Imperialist revolution – a revolution against the Imperialism of the United States. The Cuban Revolution, as an anti-Imperialist revolution, developed out of the social struggle to free Cuba from American Imperialism. This has meant that understanding Imperialism, and anti-Imperialism, is crucial for understanding the Cuban Revolution – and the relationship between Cuba and the United States. It is one of those events which still shapes our times, our politics, and our world, especially in terms of Socialist politics in Latin America.2

The Cuban Revolution, due to Cuban politics and American Imperialism, has had to face many enemies. This has limited the revolution – and resulted in some of the worst problems, disappointments, and setbacks of the revolution itself – from 1959 to today.3 Despite this the revolution, and the Cuban people themselves, has managed to transform Cuban society – producing one of the most developed societies in Latin America, and a country with one of the best health systems in the world. The Cuban Revolution, due to the dynamics of having to face both national enemies and international enemies, has had to fight both national struggles and international struggles. Despite this it has managed to inspire the world – and has made vital contributions to the revolutionary struggle for a better society, from Latin America, to Africa, to Asia.4 Indeed, the Cuban Revolution, as a revolution, has been one of the most positive and socially transformative revolutions in modern human history. The Cuban Revolution, despite its difficulties and its problems, has survived. It has survived because the Cuban people, as a people, have defended it. This dynamic within the Cuban Revolution, while not unique in the history of revolutions, has certainly shaped the politics of the Revolution itself. Instead of simply facing a national capitalist class, or a national dictatorship, the Cuban Revolution had to face the external threat of a Capitalist superpower, while also trying to make a social revolution and a political revolution. The Cuban working class has fought many struggles since 1953. The Cuban working class has managed to keep their revolution alive since 1959. The Cuban working class should be proud of their revolutionary achievement. The Cuban Revolution, despite its problems, shows that even a small nation can change the world – for the better.5

The Cuban Revolution has been heavily shaped by its relationship with the United States. Indeed, the revolution occurred, partly, because of the relationship between Cuba and the US, specifically because the US has always tried to dominate Cuba – ever since Cuban independence from Spain at the end of the 19th century. The United States, as a Capitalist and Imperialist power, has always hated the Cuban Revolution – from its earliest days. Since 1959, to the present, the United States has clearly sought to undermine the Cuban Revolution and the Revolution in Cuba. This struggle against Cuba and the Cuban Revolution has defined Cuba since 1959. This struggle, between the American and Cuban sides, has also helped to define both states during and since the Cold War. In the United States it has shown the persistence of the US government to overcome the Cuban Revolution. In Cuba it highlights the success and strength of the Revolution of 1959, both politically and socially. For the rest of South America, the Cuban Revolution still represents the possibility of social progress and social revolution. In the terms of the history of South America and Central America, the Cuban Revolution represents the ability of a state, a society, and a nation, in the American hemisphere, to break from the United States and to chart its own social development and economic development. That the Revolution in Cuba survived the 20th century, and still survives to this day, is a revolutionary achievement. It is a revolutionary achievement — not simply for Cuba, the Cuban state, Castro, Guevara, the Cuban Communist Party, or the Cuban revolutionaries of 1959, but for the entire Cuban people. It is the great event in Cuban history.6

The survival of the Cuban Revolution is a victory for the Latin American Revolution. In my view, its victory is a victory for humanity. Personally, as an anti-Stalinist Socialist, I have many criticisms of the Cuban Revolution, due to the legacy of Stalinism, but I will always defend it, to the death. I will always defend the positive legacy of the Cuban Revolution. It was a good revolution. It is a great revolution. Long live Socialist Cuba!

Notes

1. P. Sweezy and L. Huberman, Cuba: Anatomy of a Revolution, (1960)
2. E. Guevara, Socialism and Man in Cuba, (1965)
3. E. Guevara, Notes for the Study of the Ideology of the Cuban Revolution, (1960)
4. E. Guevara, Notes for the Study of the Ideology of the Cuban Revolution, (1960)
5. R. Gott, Cuba: A New History, (2004)
6. H. Thomas, Cuba: A History, (2010)

(2017)

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This post was written by R.G. Williams