2. Cuba’sDictatorshipSurvival 2
Abstract
Researching how Cuba has survived a dictatorship regime came up with several factors.
There was Fidel Castro’s repressive behavior. The government creating fear in the people so they
did not revolt. Finally the people did not want international interferences. Throughout the
research it was concluded that it was Fidel Castro that caused Cuba to survive a dictatorship
regime throughout the years. It also discovered that there were few scenarios that could take
place in case of Fidel Castro’s death. His brother Raul Castro has already been appointed to
leader of Cuba. He has begun economic reforms that appear to the world that their moving
towards a capitalist country. It appears that according to Raul Castro there will not be a change in
Cuba’s political regime.
Introduction
How has Cuba’s dictatorship regime survived over the decades? Cuba has been surviving
a dictator and a Communist government since 1959 when Fidel Castro claimed himself leader of
Cuba. He was like a savior to the people after he led Cuba to victory in their revolution and
ousted previous leader Batista. He instilled new ideology to Cuba with insurrection, anti-
imperialism, and anti-capitalism. The people of Cuba were convinced that the revolution was
necessary to make their country great as one nation. They saw this as a way to be equals and a
means to end inequality. However, they were misled. The free healthcare, free education, and
free land that Castro’s new government provided for them in the beginning was ideal but they
did not expect these free reforms would come with a heavy price, their freedom. They began to
learn over time that they were no longer free individuals and there are cases of human rights
violations. Today, they suffer the consequences of allowing one man to have taken control of
3. Cuba’sDictatorshipSurvival 3
their country. The collapse of communism of the Soviet Union had economically isolated Cuba
but communism in Cuba continued for decades.
Cuba is a special case to explore the curiosity of dictatorship survival. This research will
explore the reasons behind the suppression of the people and the government while exploring
how the corruption in the government has affected the economic problems. It is important to
understand how the government plays a role with how they decide what policies are executed
and whose responsible for the violations on the peoples’ human rights. These factors can
influence the reasons behind the curtain of why Cuba has survived the decades of a dictatorship
regime. Some of the people that still support Castro’s revolution feel it is right for Cuba. Some
people feel it is time to move forward away from the revolution since they accomplished the
overthrow of President Batista. It is hard to say that those who claim to support the revolution
truly support the continuation of the movement. Those who have dared opposed Castro’s
revolution have suffered consequences for speaking against him. Today, Fidel Castro is dying
and he will be passing down leadership to his brother Raul Castro. Since Cuba is about to
embrace a new leader, will life in Cuba improve so the people of Cuba can finally have peace.
This research will investigate to see how this country has survived under a dictatorship and see if
the dictatorship regime will continue after Fidel Castro is dead.
Literature Review
Life after the Revolution
Since 1959, Fidel Castro’s claim as leader of Cuba created an atmosphere of insurrection,
anti-imperialism, and anti-capitalism (Corrigan, 2011). He was able to persuade the people of
Cuba by winning the revolution by using his heroic status and showed the people he was able to
4. Cuba’sDictatorshipSurvival 4
achieve this victory without foreign help (Aguilar, 1990). He used his charisma and expressed
revolutionary ideas that became historic achievements and this by itself was the beginning of the
heavy support received by the Cuban people (Aguilar, 1990). He knew this would win the people
because of their suffering under the previous leader Batista. In 1960 he vowed before the people
that the revolution would create freedom from the restraints that had made their economy
suppressed in their wealth caused by the American imperialism and they would finally have their
voices heard in international meetings that concerned their way of life (Salsamendi Martinez,
2013). The 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion that was operated by the CIA of the United States, tried to
dismantle the Castro regime but failed. This created distrust towards the United States and there
was an embargo placed on Cuba’s international trading sector (Lee, 2014). This was another
attempt to shake the Cuban government to change their leadership (Lee, 2014). Yet again the
United States failed and they only strengthen the Castro’s regime (Skierka, 2014). Unfortunately,
the people of Cuba were fooled to believe they would live in a free market and free society.
Instead they are controlled by the Castro’s regime and at times Cuba is called a polyarchy
(Badella, 2014). This is because the government is a small group of selectively picked elites
controlled by Fidel Castro (Badella, 2014). The people are given a controlled and organized
selection of candidates to vote for by the elites competing (Badella, 2014).
Life Conditions under Castro’s Regime
It seemed glorious with a sense of relief that finally they would no longer live in poverty.
The wealthy were thrown off their lands ordered by Fidel Castro and the land was divided among
the people, but given free land, food, education, and healthcare (Jones, 2015). Castro’s policies
concerning education and healthcare were free but the economy crashed, poverty increased, and
Cubans had limited access to travel freely (Jones, 2015). They eventually began realizing after
5. Cuba’sDictatorshipSurvival 5
time passed that they had no real voice in how they were treated. In Cuba, there is no such thing
as freedom of speech and the government owns all official media outlets (Jones, 2015). As a
result, bloggers are intimidated and journalists are imprisoned if they report true events that can
show Castro’s regime in a negative light (Jones, 2015). The journalist will endure harsh
treatments in prison (Jones, 2015). Fidel Castro is the law, the government, and the guiding
figure of Cuba (Moses, 1999). He is to be respected, honored and feared or suffers the
consequences (Moses, 1999). His government writes laws based on what Castro wants and
Castro has the final say in how the country operates (Moses, 1999). The state provides the
resources for the peoples’ necessity (Moses, 1999). The people know that in order to receive
their resources they must obey the Castro’s regime (Moses,1999). If anyone speaks against the
government they are arrested, thrown in jail, and sometimes executed (Moses, 1999). Fide Castro
made sure the people of Cuba were loyal to his regime by creating a State Security (Moses,
1999). He had informants placed everywhere to ensure no one betrayed the revolution (Moses,
1999). The Castro’s regime successfully uses blackmail to create fear and keep the people from
revolting towards the regime (Moses, 1999). Government officials in Castro’s regime are not off
limits. Thousands of government officials have been known to be arrested and hundreds
executed for speaking against the Castro’s regime (Corrigan, 2011). It is the prisoners’ bravery
for smuggling their letters to the world that has helped to prove Castro’s regime has violated
their human rights. Currently in Cuba there are 6,000 arbitrary detentions for placing human
rights activists, reported by the Foundation for Human Rights (Jones, 2015). After 55 years
under Castro’s rule, this research will answer the question on how Cuba survived under these
conditions. Castro’s years of repressive behavior and the brutal treatment of the people of Cuba
has resulted in several investigations and raised numerous researches that seem to be endless
6. Cuba’sDictatorshipSurvival 6
(Corrigan, 2011). Living conditions has been poor since the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba’s
GDP dropped dramatically and the free resources that the Cubans were used to receiving by the
Castro’s regime became scarce and unemployment rose (Gonzalez and McCarthy, 2004).
Whenever the embargo is lifted this would mean that Cuba is holding free and fair elections
while transitioning to a democratic government excluding the Castro’s trying to take influence
the outcome (Lee, 2014). The embargo also has other previsions stating that the government
must improve the human rights, including the ability to a free pass and the government should be
releasing political prisoners (Lee, 2014). The Cuban government claims that the trade embargo
over the past fifty years are responsible results in a loss of approximately $1.126 trillion even
though some companies in U.S. have brokered agricultural deals with Cuba in recent years (Lee,
2014).
Cuban Life after Fidel Castro
In 2008, Raul Castro gained leadership from his brother (Lee,2014). He has since then
created new reforms that have lifted some restrictions but observers are skeptical of Raul
Castro’s intentions for making Cuba appearing towards a capitalist path after so many years of
suppression (Lee, 2014). The extension and strengthening of self-employment came before
updating the cooperatives. The state felt by updating how self-employment was controlled it
would benefit them with from the stress of providing this wide range of products and services to
the people (Rios, 2014). The government sees self-employment as an opportunity to regulate tax
policy on their income and the labor force so that capital will go into social security and welfare
programs for society (Rios, 2014). There are 370,000 self-employed businesses today, eighty
percent of those joined labor unions that are organized by economic branches and services (Rios,
2014). By joining unions, the Cuban workforce sees it as an opportunity to promote growth for
7. Cuba’sDictatorshipSurvival 7
businesses. Raul Castro claims, in 2010 and 2011, they have released fifty political prisoners and
foreigners through the Vatican Broker deal (Lee,2014). Yet in a 2013 report there are individuals
and groups who criticize Castro’s regime and still demand basic human rights since the
government continues to violate their human rights (Lee,2014). Raul recently stated that Cuba is
willing to negotiate economic policies but Cuba will not change their political regime
(Lee,2014). A post Castro regime could suffer two problematic scenarios whether it becomes
communist or non-communist (Gonzalez and McCarthy, 2004). First, it could have a sense of
leadership void and hinder a new regime’s ability to govern with policy shifts (Gonzalez and
McCarthy, 2004). Second, the society could be crippled. This means that Cuba might be without
rule of law and the people will abandon the socialist ideas (Gonzalez and McCarthy, 2004). This
would leave room for a transition towards democracy (Gonzalez and McCarthy, 2004). Fidel
Castro is dying and has appointed his brother his successor. The people, however, are nervous
about Raul Castro (New Statesman, 2006). They seek a leader to help them and they respect Raul
Castro as a military leader but he lacks charisma like his brother Fidel Castro (New Statesman,
2006). Raul Castro might not earn the forgiveness of economic problems like his brother (New
Statesman, 2006). Another factor that plays concerns on the people of Cuba is their fear of
showing any kind of distress towards the government in fear that the Miami Cubans will return
and demand back what was once theirs (New Statesman, 2006). However, the Castro’s regime
has made sure that there will not be any opposition to Raul Castro’s succession (New Statesman,
2006). An organization by the name of the Varela Project is led by a man named Osvaldo Paya
(New Statesman, 2006). He had escaped a protest being help against the government. He claims
that Cuba can have democracy without any interference while keeping all the free programs that
8. Cuba’sDictatorshipSurvival 8
the government gave them after the revolution without violating human rights (New Statesman,
2006). They do not want any interference from any other country (New Statesman, 2006).
Main Argument
Out of ten sources three answers are found among them to the question: how has Cuba
survived a dictatorship regime over the decades? All of the sources in this research points to the
repressive behavior conducted by Fidel Castro spoke about in Corrigan’s literature. The people’s
fear in the government spoke about in most of the resources. Finally, the people of Cuba not
wanting international interference spoke about in the New Statesman article. It appears that all
three are heavily influenced in the role of the survival of Cuba’s dictatorship. Another question
asked was will the dictatorship regime continue to survive? Two answers were presented: First,
the two scenarios such as the sense of a leadership void hindering a new regime’s ability to
govern with policy shifts crippling society. Resulting in the country being without rule of law
and the people will abandon the socialist ideas. The second is the most obvious answer, Raul
Castro stating that Cuba will not change their regime change for any reason and that subject will
not be up for negotiation. The two scenarios might have happened if Fidel Castro did not already
appoint his successor and the communist government had not already produced protection for
Raul Castro.
The Castor’s regime had ensured from the beginning to preserve the revolutionary idea.
Fidel Castro did instruct his government how he wanted the laws implemented. The government
made sure the laws were executed and the socialist reforms were preserved through
9. Cuba’sDictatorshipSurvival 9
constitutional means. The fear that the Castro’s regime placed on the people of Cuba has
hindered their will to revolt against the government. The human rights violations are a good
example of why the people have not created another revolution. The people are extremely afraid
of speaking against the regime. Fidel Castro assured he placed informants throughout the
country. This is a good indication that the people would be careful about expressing their own
views politically or they knew they would suffer consequences. Fidel Castro instilled to the
people that they must show support of the revolution or be punished. The government suffers the
same fate as the regular people. The civilians and political figures are too afraid to stand up to
the Castro regime to stop the brutal inhumanity that is bestowed upon them.
The people of Cuba do not want any intervention by other countries, especially by the
Miami Cubans. Considering they have lived there since the Miami Cubans left and would not
want them to change/share what they have grown accustom too. They enjoy the free reforms
such as education, healthcare and food. They just want freedom to choose who their leader is and
the freedom to speak without fear of brutal punishment. Their uncertainty of new leadership
results from Raul Castro plays into whether or not the dictatorship regime will continue to
survive or will Cuba have the ability to transition to a capitalist country leaving the socialist
ideas behind. The government is trying to improve Cuba’s reputation by moving away from real
socialist views to a modern socialist view. Improving the way people think and manage is highly
important if Cuba wants to improve its future. There is still the question though on the peoples’
desire for no intervention from international affairs. The people are still being suppressed. The
question could be asked if their views on this were coerced by the Cuban government or were
these people apart of the informants for the government?
10. Cuba’sDictatorshipSurvival 10
To re-ask the original question: How has Cuba’s dictatorship regime survived over the
decades? The correct answer through much research stands with Fidel Castro’s repressive
behavior on the people of Cuba. His creation of a spy ring on his people eventually forced people
to form distrust amongst each other. Fidel Castro created fear in his people through harsh
punishments for speaking against the revolution. His ability to orchestrate with his communist
government to create a law in their constitution so that no one can change their socialist ideas
and nothing in Cuba will ever change politically, results in that Cuba might actually have a life-
long dictatorship. Raul has already stated that the regime will not change only the economics of
Cuba will be negotiated. Since the people of Cuba are still being suppressed and abused, one
could ask if their answers on no intervention are solid. So Fidel Castro is the reason why Cuba
has survived a dictatorship and it still continues today.
Conclusion
The revolution led and won by Fidel Castro was supposed to be the beginning of a new
and improved Cuba. The people were promised free markets and a free society. Instead they
were deceived once again. Fidel Castro played on their hopes and dreams. Those you had money
was stripped of their money and land. Forcing them to either flee or suffer in poverty. The people
were punished if they dared speak against Fidel Castro including the revolution. Government
officials were not safe either. I f they tried to go against him, he would imprison them and
execute them. The fall of the Soviet Union played a role in Cuba’s economy crashing. The free
reforms they began to grow accustom to, had disappeared after the economy crashed. The United
States tried to assassinate Fidel Castro and lost at the Bay of Pigs invasion. The United States
embargo was the next step in trying to stop the Castro’s dictatorship regime that created Cuba’s
economic isolation. In fear of the people possibly revolting against his regime, Fidel Castro
11. Cuba’sDictatorshipSurvival 11
created informants to report anyone speaking against his government. Cuba’s agricultural
economic crisis is truly the governments fault for allowing socialist ideas in their economy.
Socialist policies do not work because it isolates the state from world institutions like the
International Monetary Fund, Foreign Direct Investments, the World Bank, and Transnational
Companies. These institutions could create more capital for Cuba. If Cuba would agree to the
United States terms in the trade embargo then Cuba would open up opportunities to a capital
wealth they have not seen in decades. Cubans have enjoyed the free reforms such as education,
healthcare and food. They just want freedom choose who their leader is and the freedom to speak
without fear of brutal punishment. Even though the Cuban society is unsure of Raul Castro’s
intentions, all they want to see accomplished by their new leader is to give the people freedom
and for the human rights abuse to stop. It is important to the Cuban people because if Raul
Castro restores freedom of choice to the people and continues to make good deals, their economy
will begin to grow. It does make another argument, will the people accept a new leadership other
than a Castro in office. It could be suspected that the two scenarios of leadership void could
create Cuba to fully abandonment on socialist reforms and lead the country towards a democratic
system. Overall it can be concluded that Fidel Castro is the heart and soul of Cuba and he will
not let go of the revolution that begun his rule. By him appointing his brother proves he will not
let go of an old ideology. Rather than have it live on through his brother. Today, Fidel Castro is
the world’s longest living dictator despite the several assassination attempts.
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