Emergence of Authoritarian States

• Conditions in which authoritarian states emerged: economic factors; social division; impact of war; weakness of political system 

Economic Factors

• Cuba’s Economy Dominated by U.S. Interests: U.S. corporations owned much of Cuba’s land and industry, leading to economic dependency.
  
  

• Widespread Poverty and Unemployment: 30% of the Cuban population was unemployed, with workers suffering from low wages and poor conditions.
  
  

• Land Inequality: Large landowners and foreign investors controlled resources, while peasants and workers struggled.
  
  

• Moncada Programme’s Economic Goals: Proposed land redistribution, fair wages, and national sovereignty to address economic disparity.
  
  

Social Division

• Extreme Inequality: Wealthy landowners and U.S. businesses prospered, while workers and peasants suffered.
  
  

• Historical Divisions: After the abolition of slavery in 1886, former slaves were left in poverty, increasing racial and class tensions.
  
  

• Urban vs. Rural Divide: Eastern Cuba, particularly Oriente, remained impoverished, fostering revolutionary sentiment.
  
  

• Moncada Programme’s Social Reforms: Promised free education, healthcare, and economic justice to bridge the divide.
  
  

Impact of War

• Batista’s 1952 Coup as Internal Conflict: Though Cuba had no recent foreign war, Batista’s coup was framed by Castro as a war against the people.
  
  

• Repression and Violence: Batista’s regime used military force to suppress opposition, worsening tensions.
  
  

• Guatemala Coup (1954): U.S. intervention in Guatemala influenced Castro’s fears of foreign interference and reinforced the need for revolutionary action.
  
  

• Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961): U.S.-backed failed invasion strengthened Castro’s hold on power and justified further repression.
  
  

Weakness of the Political System

• Corrupt and Unstable Governments: U.S. intervention led to puppet presidents, coups, and rigged elections, creating instability.
  
  

• Batista’s Rule (1940-1952, 1952-1958): Gained power through military force, showing democracy was weak and easily dismantled.
  
  

• Failed Promises of Reform: The 1933 revolution and subsequent governments failed to address economic and social issues.
  
  

• Moncada Programme’s Political Vision: Called for restoring democracy, ending corruption, and returning power to the people.

• Methods used to establish authoritarian states: persuasion and coercion; the role of leaders; ideology; use of force; propaganda

1. Persuasion and Coercion

• Persuasion:

  • Moncada Programme: Castro’s "History Will Absolve Me" speech framed the movement as a necessary revolution, convincing Cubans of Batista’s corruption.

  • Promise of Social Reforms: Appeals for land redistribution, free education, and economic justice resonated with the poor and middle class.

  • Gaining Peasant Support: Castro's guerrilla forces treated peasants with respect, assisted with harvests, and provided medical care.

• Coercion:

  • Crushing Opposition: The Escambray Rebellion (1959–1965) was violently suppressed to eliminate counter-revolutionary threats.

  • Political Repression: Utilized censorship, imprisonment, and execution against Batista loyalists and political opponents.

  • Forced Resignations: Criticism of communist policies led to the replacement of President Urrutia, labeled a traitor.

2. The Role of Leaders

• Fidel Castro:

  • Charismatic Leadership: Cast himself as Cuba's savior, delivering passionate speeches on nationalism and social justice.

  • Military Leadership: Led guerrilla warfare from Sierra Maestra, achieving strategic victories over Batista’s poorly organized army.

  • Eliminating Rivals: Sidelined opponents like Huber Matos who disagreed with his shift to communism.

  • Adaptability: Shifted rhetoric from nationalism to socialism, aligning with the USSR when necessary.

• Batista’s Weaknesses:

  • Corrupt and Repressive Rule: His pro-American stance and electoral corruption eroded public trust.

  • Failed Military Strategy: Despite having more soldiers, Batista’s forces were poorly trained and lacked local support.

3. Ideology

• Nationalism:

  • Castro positioned himself as the defender of Cuban sovereignty against U.S. imperialism.

  • Land reform and nationalization sought to reduce foreign control over the Cuban economy.

• Socialism and Marxism:

  • Initially denying communist ties, Castro declared Cuba a socialist state after the Bay of Pigs invasion (1961).

  • Policies:

    • Land Redistribution: Broke up large estates, redistributing land to the peasantry.

    • Nationalization: Seized foreign-owned businesses, primarily targeting U.S. corporations.

    • Universal Welfare: Implemented free education and healthcare to promote economic equality.

• Anti-Imperialism:

  • Used U.S. aggression (e.g., CIA involvement in Guatemala, Bay of Pigs) to justify the need for a strong authoritarian state.

4. Use of Force

• Military Tactics:

  • Guerrilla Warfare: The Sierra Maestra campaign (1956–1959) utilized hit-and-run tactics to avoid direct confrontations with Batista’s army, which lacked organization and local support.

  • Operation Verano (1958): Batista’s counteroffensive failed due to poor leadership, desertions, and low morale.

• Consolidation of Power:

  • Arrests and Executions: Thousands of Batista’s supporters were tried and executed after the regime change in 1959.

  • Control of Military: The Revolutionary Armed Forces became loyal to Castro, eliminating internal threats.

5. Propaganda

• "History Will Absolve Me" Speech:

  • Turned the failed Moncada Barracks attack into a political victory, framing the revolution as necessary.

  • Positioned Castro as a moral leader fighting against Batista’s corruption.

• Media Control:

  • Censorship: Anti-Castro media was suppressed; state-controlled news promoted revolutionary achievements.

  • Portrayal of U.S. as the Enemy: The Bay of Pigs invasion (1961) and CIA plots were utilized to rally public support around Castro.

• International Image:

  • Castro presented Cuba as a leader in anti-colonial struggles, sending troops to Angola to support socialist movements.

  • Gained international sympathy through speeches and interviews, such as Herbert Matthews’ New York Times interview.