Cuba

[Holocaustpulp]

I do not know what to think of Cuba and its revolutionary past - whether or not I am believing a bourgeois lie when I hear that he is a dictator and that his state is one run by oppression. I do think however that Castro shows himself as a despot by holding onto power so long, and if not a despot, than a non-socialist.

I would hence appreciate it if us comrades have a discussion - first offering their points of view on the topic of revolutonary Cuba - such that I and others that are perhaps torn or confused on this subject can find a path to understanding.

- HP

[Frederik]

The Cuban revolution is a very important question for marxists. Therefore, my short reply is not nearly enough, but I hope that the comrades will give a contribution on this matter.

But to sum up the marxist attitude towards Cuba:

1: The cuban revolution expropriated the capitalists (of which nearly all were US corporations) and set up a nationalised planned economy. This was a great step forward which allowed the development of the economy, wiped iliteracy out and allowed living standards to rise.

2: This proces was not a result of concious planning from the side of Castro and Guevara, but was a result of the impasse of cimperialism and the existence of a strong stalinist USSR. Even the small reforms, carried out by Castro (who had no plans of overthrowing capitalism), was untolerable for imperialism. The US cancelled old agreements over sugar trade, and in response, Castro sold the sugar to Russia. Washington ordered the oil corporations (among them Texaco and Shell) not to refine  Russian oil in Cuba, in response Castro nationalised the oil industry. It was the stupidity of American imperialism that threw Castro in the arms of the stalinist bureaucracy.

3: This, and the fact that the revolution mainly was based on guerillaism in stead of the working class, led to the creation of a workers state in the image of Moscow. A nationalised planned economy, but no workers' democracy and no soviets.

4: Marxists stand for unconditional defence of the Cuban revolution, ie. the planned economy and the abolishion of capitalism. But we must say: how is this best done?
The best defence for the Cuban revolution is  a call for real workers' democracy. All parties and tendencies that accept the planned economy must be legal. This would not weaken, but strengthen the masses' involvement in running of society, and strengthen the revolution.
And, above all, the revolution must be spread. The Cuban revolution cannot survive alone. Socialism in one country is impossible. This was true for the USSR, and it is certainly true for a small island in the Carribean Sea.

I will strongly recommend these articles on Cuba:

Cuba: executions and repression - a class point of view
http://www.marxist.com/cuba-executions-repression130504.htm

The Cuban revolution at the crossroads:
http://www.marxist.com/cuban-revolution-crossroads150702.htm

40th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution:
http://www.marxist.com/cuban-revolution-anniversary150199.htm

Comradely,
Frederik

[proletarianrevo]

I agree with Frederik.

I would like to add that the Cuban revolution also confirms very precisely, the theory of the permanent revolution elaborated by Trotsky. As Frederik points out, Castro did not have a counscious plan to aim the revolution towards the aboluition of Capitalism. In fact he had a programme of petit-bourgeois revolutionary democracy. He wanted to finish the tasks of the bourgeois revolution within the confines of Capitalism. But even theese limited reforms were impossible to carry through without taking up a fight against the national oligarchy and Imperialism!!!
That is why they - in the end - did not have any other alternative than the expropriating of Capitalist property and the creation of a planned economy.

We also have to understand that the planned economy played - and still plays - an enormeously progressive role. Cuba has leaped in the statistics on all fields, in terms of health care, doctors available per capita, education, social spendings, etc. The gains of the revolution are thus very very real, and the people have fought time and time again to defend the revolution - one of the most well-known examples is the heroic struggle against the invasion in the battle of the bay of pigs.

Despite all these gains, there are also some serious problems in Cuba. Frederik correctly points out the lack of workers democracy and the existence of a bureaucracy. This has led also to various other problems, such as corruption (although the Castro regime have now taken steps against this), mismanagement, and more inequality.
The only road to effectively solve these problems is to incorporate real workers´ democracy and to extend the revolution to other countries. This would also mean a much better situation for the Cuban economy, healing the damage done by the criminal trade-embarco that the US have implemented.

The discussion on thedse issues must be spread widely within the workers´ movement internationally and especially in Latin America and in Cuba herself. This is already beginning slowly to take place, with the debate on the issue of Trotsky within the Cuban communist movement, where some figures in the movement such as Celia Hart and Frank J. Solar (see articles below). This must be taken up at all levels. Even if you are based in other countries, it is important to take up the issue of Cuba and discuss the perspectives and insist on the defence of the revolution. Arrange public meetings and distribute articles from IDOM!

The articles recommended by Frederik are a very interesting. Furthermore, there are some more material which is a bit more detailed and with the whole background. Unfortunately it is in Spanish and has not been translated into English as of yet - but I think that the main leaflet - the first link - will appear in English at some stage in the future.
For thoose who read Spanish, should consult:

http://www.elmilitante.org/index.asp?id=muestra&id_art=1569
(The Cuban Revolution:past, present, future - and absolute must for everyone who wants to understand the process in details.)

http://www.elmilitante.org/index.asp?id=muestra&id_art=1944 (interview with a rank and file member, Frank, from young communists who has an internationalist perspective)

http://www.elmilitante.org/index.asp?id=muestra&id_art=1787
(Interesting interview with Celia Hart)

If you run a search on marxist.com on "Celia Hart" you will find some of her articles, interviews, etc, you will find more.

Comradely,
Andreas

[Holocaustpulp]

Thank you, that is, both Frederik and proletarianrevolution. I am glad you could convey the Marxist position on Cuba, and I had actually just read two articles recommended by Frederik on marxist.com that were very informative. The ones written in spanish, well, I can still understand a little bit!

Thank both of you again for all informative, suggestions, and reading material.

- HP

[Frederik]

Also this thread is good to read on the subject of Cuba and proletarian bonapartism in general:

http://discussion.newyouth.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1137&highlight=cuba

And also in the document "Marxism and the struggle against imperialism", http://www.marxist.com/Theory/colrev.html there is a chapter on the Cuban revolution.

[trotboy]

Ah, Proletarian Bonapartism, a phrase little used or understood these days. But an important one to understand, nonetheless. It is really something born of the Cold War, of the competition between Stalinist and Capitalist Imperialism, and the need to create 'client states' or cloned regimes which would trade economically with and support the position of the Imperialist Power which created them.

In the period following the second world war, a whole host of small nations appeared, winning their independence from their former Colonial masters one way or another. One of the popular methods of achieving this was by either a Military coup, or a Guerrilla war waged by parts of the armed forces. Often some of the Officers involved were trained in the USSR, sometimes they found themselves propelled into the arms of the USSR by their need for weapons, training, materiel etc. These Nations generally ended up modelling their structures on Stalinist lines, which made them progressive in some ways, oppressive, undemocratic and dictatorial in others. The last surviving examples of these are Cuba, North Korea and a few pale shadows of their former selves in Zimbabwe, Libya etc.

Basically the term means a deformed Workers State created artificially by an 'enlightened' Bonapartist clique or Dictatorship.

Cuba is certainly an example of a PB regime, but with some unique oddities which make it a little different from many other examples, and therefore longer lived.

[UptheIRPS!]

There's far less of a dictatorship in Cuba than the majority of countries around the world. The Cuban government is actuallyl comprised of the masses, and that's why Cuba can accomplish so much. When it sets out to deal with a problem or task, it mobilises the masses.

[marxiawathicommunist]

Article one

Article 2

The above two articles are from liberal websites about the success story of Permaculture/Organic Farmomg in Cuba. I posted those links just to show the commitment of people to defend the revolution. So I am very optimistic that Cuba wil remain socialist at least for some generations.

[The Evil Stalinist]

Cuba is essentially state-capitalist having been to Cuba, you'll notice that a large sector of its economy has been privatized creating a widening gap in wealth ownership.

The problems of the Cuban revolution stem from the fact that all these years, it has been under the boot Soviet Revisionist Social Imperialism as Cuba essentially just switched from one buyer of its main agricultural product, to another rather than slowly adjusting its agricultural problems.

[world_ssr]

For a marxist revolutionary, Castro seems to have expensive taste. According to statistics (I am aware that you can make statistics say anything you want) Castro is one of the richest heads of state in the world. I can't shake this feeling that he's going to "Pull a Stalin" on his people and comrades. Could someone please reply?

By the way, HAPPY MAY DAY!!!

[Otter]

I do not know what to think of Cuba and its revolutionary past - whether or not I am believing a bourgeois lie when I hear that he is a dictator and that his state is one run by oppression. I do think however that Castro shows himself as a despot by holding onto power so long, and if not a despot, than a non-socialist.

I would hence appreciate it if us comrades have a discussion - first offering their points of view on the topic of revolutonary Cuba - such that I and others that are perhaps torn or confused on this subject can find a path to understanding.

- HP

Interesting subject

My opinion;

Cuba isn't just the last socialist bastion in the caribbean, it's the last true socialist bastion in the world. From what I understand, most cubans love Castro, and of his revolution. A despot yes, but a true socialist, and a very intellectual despot. His only problem is that he's getting older, while the world around him isn't. I thinks he can keep to the good ol' tracks, and things will be as they've always been. Without sacrifice, there can be no progress. But Castro's yet to realize that.

Eventually, you might say Cuba's future died with the Soviet Union, and it's present will die with Castro. Then all that's left will be the past.

Try reading the norwegian book "This is Cuba- Everything else's a lie!". It gives you a unique insight into cuban/castro mentality=)

Otter

[Zatoichi]

Heres a little thought experiment, take Canada and look at its size we have 308 parliament representatives, now look at Cuba. They have around 600. Who has the greater democracy? Castro is NOT a dictator, he holds a more ceremonial position and holds Cubas Proletariat together much better then anyone else could, the moment the embargo is lifted Castro will most likely resign.

[Christopher Hill]

Cuba is a degenerated workers state, any power which the people once had has been taken over by bureaucracy and dictators..However it must be protected from the bourgeois as it does show the promise of possible proletarian revolution for self emancipation.