Discussion #1: History of Cuba Precursor to Castro- Sabby

-

Prior to this course, most of my understanding of Cuba's history was synonymous with casual comments in conversations about Castro's rule, how traveling to Cuba was illegal for Americans, and a case study regarding McKinley's decision to send the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba. It wasn't until these readings and brief newsreels that I was able to understand a little more of the nuance in Cuba's history, particularly with the involvement of the U.S. and the colonial influence of Spain.


Cuba's role as the "crown jewel" of the Spanish empire in the Americas was mainly due to its geographical location, acting as a vital stopping point between Spain and the Americas, as well as a hub for the transatlantic slave trade (of which Spain was a major player). Additionally, Cuba, with its fertile soil, played a crucial role in growing crops. After the collapse of Haiti as a major sugar producer, Cuba quickly filled the void and met the demand for sugar.


Leading up to the Cuban Revolution, U.S. involvement with the island nation was initiated through the Spanish-American War, where the U.S. intervened in Cuba's struggle for independence. The time of Batista and a U.S.-backed government (1930s-1950s) was integral to the success of Fidel Castro's socialist regime. During Batista's authoritarian rule, many Cubans faced socioeconomic inequalities while the government reveled in the wealth of corruption. Batista also had long-lasting relationships with organized crime and encouraged gambling, sex work, and drugs that attracted wealthy Americans and foreigners to the island.


Castro was able to capitalize on the insecurities that Batista's reign had created among the Cuban populace. Formally educated as a lawyer, Castro championed a platform of social justice, nationalism, socialism, and anti-imperialist values/reforms. He teamed up with Che Guevara to kindle a revolution. One reform that Castro promised and particularly stood out to me was addressing the land ownership of the island. His land reforms promised to distribute large estates to small farmers and landless citizens with the hope of breaking up the concentration of land ownership and empowering the agricultural sector of the country. 


Conducting this dive into Cuba's history, I found many parallels with the history of the Philippines (a history I am a little more familiar with as half my family lives there). Both countries were colonized by Spain, occupied by the United States for military purposes, and revolted against foreign rule. It is interesting to see how the revolts ended up with leaders with completely polarized political ideologies, Fidel Castro adopting a social regime while Ferdinand Marcos assumed an authoritarian dictatorship. 


Conducting this dive into Cuba's history, I found many parallels with the history of the Philippines (a history I am a little more familiar with as half my family lives there). Both countries were colonized by Spain, occupied by the United States for military purposes, and revolted against foreign rule. It is interesting to see how the revolts ended up with leaders with completely polarized political ideologies, with Fidel Castro adopting a socialist regime while Ferdinand Marcos assumed an authoritarian dictatorship.


Questions: 

  • How did Fidel Castro's utilization of land reforms during the Cuban Revolution, aimed at addressing socioeconomic inequalities and redistributing land ownership, contribute to the success of his socialist regime?

  • How do Castro's land reforms draw parallels or contrasts with the current state of U.S. farmland, where concerns about agribusiness consolidation and large-scale farming have been raised?


Sources: 

- https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/7/20/the-us-in-cuba-a-history-of-organised-crime 

- https://cubaplatform.org/land-reform 

- https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Cuba-history.htm

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Consequences of the US Embargo On Cuba

-
  Since the 1960s, the United States has profoundly influenced the Cuban economy through the implementation of a strict trade embargo. The embargo isolated Cuba from the international economy subsequently shaping Cuba's contemporary economic, societal, and political landscape. The focus of this blog will be to examine the consequences of the US embargo and to discern the impact it has had on Cuban citizens.       In order to determine the impact of the US embargo, it is necessary to understand the reasons behind its implementation. Following the establishment of Fidel Castro's revolutionary socialist state, strong ties between the Soviet Union and Cuba were developed. In a move that certainly aligns with Castro's anti-US beliefs, broad antagonistic policies towards the US were adopted. Included in these policy changes was the nationalization  of all foreign assets in Cuba, tax hikes on U.S. imports, and the establishment trade deals with the ...
Read more

Discussion 2: Art Culture Identity

-
  I find the art culture in Cuba to be amazing. I like that it is an enormous part of their identity. I also like that it has historical significance and is rooted in the creation of an independent Cuba. For example Jose Martí was a huge figure in the fight against Spain in Cuba's war for independence. He was well known for his art and his poetry but he had a long lasting effect on the people of Cuba and people of Latin American countries. “Martíis influence has endured and may be said to embody a message for all people of all nations and cultures today.”(Google Arts and Culture). I like that in a similar manner to the “melting pot” the United States has for its people, Cuba is similar in the way that the arts are combinations of various cultures. For example the afro-cuban cultural movement included pieces. Not only was this in art work but also in the music that they created.One of the artists I found to be interesting was Wilfredo Lam. I found his talent to be interesting becaus...
Read more

Cuba and its Revolution, a Country Caught in the Middle

-
    Cuba for much of its history has been influenced or directed by a foreign power. From direct ownership from Spain in colonial times, to American influence in the mid 20th century, to Soviet partnership after that, Cuba never seems to be able to act fully on its own accord.      Beginning with the Spanish, after centuries of rule, the Cuban citizenry was tired of Spanish governance, specifically despotism and over-taxation. This led to a revolution and 10 year war against the Spanish which was ultimately unsuccessful. However, this was not the end, and in 1895 another revolutionary war occurred. This time, it was different. The United States, wanting to increase its influence over the island and protect its economic interests, entered the fight against the Spanish. They ultimately were successful, and in 1902 were allowed to become their own country.     Superficially, this sounds fantastic, however with all seemingly good things there is often a ca...
Read more