The Cuban Revolution
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THE CUBAN REVOLUTION AND ITS IMPACT ON LATIN AMERICA
“Analyse the impact of the Cuban Revolution on both Cuban society and the wider Latin American world”
The Cuban Revolution of 1959 has profoundly shaken the economic, social and political foundations of Cuba itself, however its impact on Latin America was not as predominant. The inauguration of Fidel Castro over Fulgencio Batista was the beginning of a communist regime in Cuba, which has now raised the living standards of everyday Cubans to one of the highest in Latin America. As well as this, Latin America has been subject to countless revolutionary activities supported and implemented by Fidel himself. Everyday Cubans during the rule of Dictator Fulgencio Batista were restricted and powerless, subject to strict social classes and poverty. “The high national wealth of the country was being unequally distributed amongst the people. A large Cuban middle class were ‘frustrated with their lack of political power and influence” (Darlington, Turning Points – The Cuban Revolution Depth Study) Fidel Castro, a student leader and lawyer opposed the dictatorship of Batista and organised the July 26 Movement to execute a guerrilla campaign that eventually toppled the Batista government in 1959.
The Cuban Revolution had major effects on the lifestyle of everyday Cubans, in particular benefits in health, education and the local economy. However some questioned the benefits of a communist regime in Cuba, stating that the right hand dictatorship of Batista had simply been replaced by the left hand dictatorship of Castro, and that politically nothing had truly changed. Political liberty did not improve after the revolution, which forced many people to flee Cuba (Egan, I. 2011. An Assessment of the Cuban Revolution. Retrieved 14th July). “However, the equality between social classes established by communist leader Fidel Castro led to Cuba having one of the highest standings
THE CUBAN REVOLUTION AND ITS IMPACT ON LATIN AMERICA
“Analyse the impact of the Cuban Revolution on both Cuban society and the wider Latin American world”
The Cuban Revolution of 1959 has profoundly shaken the economic, social and political foundations of Cuba itself, however its impact on Latin America was not as predominant. The inauguration of Fidel Castro over Fulgencio Batista was the beginning of a communist regime in Cuba, which has now raised the living standards of everyday Cubans to one of the highest in Latin America. As well as this, Latin America has been subject to countless revolutionary activities supported and implemented by Fidel himself. Everyday Cubans during the rule of Dictator Fulgencio Batista were restricted and powerless, subject to strict social classes and poverty. “The high national wealth of the country was being unequally distributed amongst the people. A large Cuban middle class were ‘frustrated with their lack of political power and influence” (Darlington, Turning Points – The Cuban Revolution Depth Study) Fidel Castro, a student leader and lawyer opposed the dictatorship of Batista and organised the July 26 Movement to execute a guerrilla campaign that eventually toppled the Batista government in 1959.
The Cuban Revolution had major effects on the lifestyle of everyday Cubans, in particular benefits in health, education and the local economy. However some questioned the benefits of a communist regime in Cuba, stating that the right hand dictatorship of Batista had simply been replaced by the left hand dictatorship of Castro, and that politically nothing had truly changed. Political liberty did not improve after the revolution, which forced many people to flee Cuba (Egan, I. 2011. An Assessment of the Cuban Revolution. Retrieved 14th July). “However, the equality between social classes established by communist leader Fidel Castro led to Cuba having one of the highest standings
Bibliography: * Chomsky, A. 2010. A History of the Cuban Revolution, John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, UK. * Dolgoff, S * Goldston, R. 1970. The Cuban Revolution. Bobbs-Merrill Co. Oxford. * Lievesley, G * Stable – Pe`rez, M. 2011. The Cuban Revolution – Origins, Course, Legacy. Oxford University Press, London. * Sweig, J * Wright, T. 2001. Latin America in the Era of the Cuban Revolution. Greenwood Publishing Group, Westport. ARTICLES * DePalma, A. 2008. 1959 – The Cuban Revolution. New York Times Upfront, Volume 141, Issue 1, page 24. * Ferguson, H * Goldenburg, B. 1966. The Cuban Revolution and Latin America. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Volume 367, Issue 1, page 167. * Turning Points by Darlington et al in 2002 published by Heinemann in Melbourne * Bettmann, C. 2004. History of Latin America, Retrieved 10th July from http://www.britannica.com/hispanic_heritage/article-60819 * Egan, I * Rayne, T. 1999. History of the Cuban Revolution. Retrieved 12th July from http://www.rcgfrfi.easynet.co.uk/ratb/cuba/cuba_rev.htm * Simkin, J. 2006. Fidel Castro and the Revolution. Retrieved 13th July from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDcastroF.htm * Taaffe, P. 2008. Cuba, Socialism and Democracy. Retrieved 14th July from http://www.socialistworld.net/pubs/Cuba/cuapp1.html * Teichert, P. 2002. Latin America and the Socio- Economic Impact of the Cuban Revolution. Retrieved 12th July from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/164834?uid=3737536&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=47699122499227