Definition and meaning of Castroism

Part of the series on
Communism
Concepts Marxist philosophy Marxian economics Historical materialism Surplus value Mode of production Class struggle Classless society Proletarian internationalism Workers' self-management World revolution
Aspects Communist state Communist party Communist revolution Communist symbolism Communism and religion History of communism
Variants Marxism Leninism Marxism-Leninism Anti-revisionism: Stalinism - Maoism - Hoxhaism Trotskyism Luxemburgism Titoism Castroism Guevarism Juche Left communism Council communism Anarchist communism Religious communism Christian communism Eurocommunism World communism Stateless communism National communism Primitive communism Scientific communism List of communist parties
Internationals Communist League First International Second International Third International Fourth International
Leading individuals   Gracchus Babeuf   Karl Marx   Friedrich Engels   Peter Kropotkin   Rosa Luxemburg   Karl Liebknecht   Antonio Gramsci   Vladimir Lenin   Leon Trotsky   Joseph Stalin   Kim Il-Sung   Mao Zedong   Ho Chi Minh   Josip Broz Tito   Che Guevara
Related topics Anti-capitalism Anti-communism Cold War Criticisms of communism Criticisms of communist party rule Dictatorship of the proletariat Left-wing politics New Class · New Left Socialism Socialist economics "Workers of the world, unite!"

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (May 2009)

Castroism (castrismo in Spanish) is a left-wing ideology, lined with and created by Fidel Castro. Castroism is influenced by many ideologies but particularly the theories of Cuban revolutionary José Martí, and after 1961, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin and according to some, fellow 26th of July Movement partner Che Guevara. Castroism's main focus is the practice and theory behind revolution and revolutionary government in Cuba and promotes Cuban nationalism, Latin American solidarity, social justice and people's democracy.

  History

  Castro, in 2002, beneath a statue of José Martí

  Pre 1959

Fidel Castro first expounded the main principles of Castroism in his 1953 speech, History Will Absolve Me. Here he stressed the reinstatement of the 1940 Constitution of Cuba, and also promoted a series of land and labor reforms. In this speech, he mentions little about socialism; and communist ideologies and terminology make no appearance. In the speech Castro also stated the need for Cuban nationalism, social equality and solidarity among the Cuban people. This speech strongly criticized the government of Fulgencio Batista.

  1959–1961

In the aftermath of the Cuban Revolution and his appointment as Prime Minister of Cuba, Castro began to take a more active interest in the development of his political ideals. During this time, Castro did implement many socialist, but not explicitly Marxist reforms of land and working rights, including the 1959, First Agrarian Reform. Soon afterwards, however, it was noted that Cuban officials had contacted KGB operatives in Mexico City.

This was followed soon by over 500 Spanish-speaking advisors being sent to Cuba by the Soviet Union. Over the following two years Castro built up his relationship with the USSR, buying oil from them, and exporting sugar and coffee. In 1960-61 Castro began to introduce Marxist-Leninist ideas into the, then developing theory of Castroism. Collectivization and other communist practices were implemented, and Cuba was declared a socialist state with the Communist Party of Cuba as the leading force in society and state.

  After 1961

In 1976, the Cuban government introduced the modern constitution of Cuba, which sought to institutionalize the Cuban Revolution, and its Marxist principles. It was based extensively on the constitutions of the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries. It introduced communist ideology, specifically Marxist-Leninist, into the government of Cuba. It stipulated that health care and education provision ought to be free of charge, and that the state could restrict media and religious organizations within the island. This was the first time that explicitly Soviet principles had been incorporated into a major piece of Cuban legislation.

In 2002, socialist ideals were declared ultimate and irrevocable, within the governance of the island of Cuba. Even in modern times Castroism distinguishes itself from other communist ideologies, such as Trotskyism or Maoism, in that it supports a more socialist theory of governance and its focus on Latin American solidarity and Cuban nationalism, as well as the exportation of revolution to other countries (see Angola and Congo). This was demonstrated in recent times, when Fidel Castro attended numerous summits with the left-wing leaders, Schafik Handal, Evo Morales, Hugo Chávez and laborioust Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

  Background

The development of Castroism is based upon the background of the 1959 Cuban Revolution and Fidel Castro's years in power. It was largely shaped by a close involvement with the Soviet Union. Initially the Cuban revolutionaries received little if any support from the large communist states in Russia or the People's Republic of China. However as the revolutionary government solidified and established a functioning government, other powers became more closely involved.

In the early 1960s, the Soviet Union integrated Cuba into one of its network of satellite states, thus providing opportunities for Cuba to export large amounts of sugar, coffee and other goods. As a result of this Cuba became embroiled in many of the conflicts between the Soviet Union and the USA including the Cuban missile crisis. This close relationship with the USSR, led to many policy decision within Cuba, relating to internal and foreign affairs.

  Outcomes and influence

Generally, the theories of Castroism lead to a more close, personal relationship between Russia and Cuba, during the period from 1961–91. Many of the policies of this era were influenced by Cuba's heavy reliance on the support of the USSR in political and economic spheres. However, soon after the USSR's collapse, Cuba joined the Non-Aligned Movement and the organization was headed by both Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro. It can also be said that to some extent Castroism influenced those communist governments that took control in Western and Southern Africa, particularly in Angola and Congo-Kinshasa due in part to the presence of Cuban troops and officials in those countries for many years.

  See also

• Fidel Castro
• History Will Absolve Me

  References

• Theodore Draper: Castroisn: Theory and Practice. New York: Praeger 1965
• Iain McLean,Alistair McMillan: The concise Oxford dictionary of politics. Oxford University Press 2009, ISBN 978-0-19-920516-5, p. 66 (restricted online copy at Google Books)
• Frank O. Mora, Jeanne A. K. Hey: Latin American and Caribbean Foreign Policy. Rowman & Littlefield 2003, ISBN 0-7425-1601-6, p. 98-102 (restricted online copy at Google Books)

Cuba Culture Art Cinema Internet Literature Media Music Musical theater Newspapers Public holidays Radio Religion Sports (Baseball, Boxing, Football) Television Universities Demographics Cubans Afro-Cubans Cape Verdean Chinese Ciboney Filipino German Haitian Isleños Italian Japanese Jews Korean LGBT Spanish White Women Economy Agriculture Agrarian reform Agricultural cooperatives Airline Central bank Communications Peso Convertible peso Tourism Transport Geography General Almendares River Sierra Maestra World Heritage Sites Cities Bayamo Camagüey Ciego de Ávila Cienfuegos Guantánamo Havana Holguín Victoria de Las Tunas Matanzas Pinar del Río Sancti Spíritus Santa Clara Santiago de Cuba Provinces Artemisa Camagüey Ciego de Ávila Cienfuegos Ciudad de La Habana Granma Guantánamo Holguín Isla de la Juventud Las Tunas Matanzas Mayabeque Pinar del Río Sancti Spíritus Santiago de Cuba Villa Clara History Timeline Colonial governors Ten Years' War Little War Cuban War of Independence Sinking of the USS Maine Spanish–American War Platt Amendment Revolution 1932 Cuba Hurricane La Coubre explosion Bay of Pigs Invasion Cuban Missile Crisis War Against the Bandits Cuban intervention in Angola (1975-1991) Cubana Flight 455 Mariel boatlift Special Period 2006 Cuban transfer of presidential duties Tropical cyclones People By Career Academics‎ Activists‎ Actors‎ Architects‎ Artists‎ Ballet Dancers‎ Businesspeople‎ Chefs‎ Comedians‎ Composers‎ Cosmonauts‎ Criminals‎ Dancers‎ Economists‎ Educators‎ Engineers‎ Entertainers‎ Farmers‎ Film Directors‎ Film Producers‎ Geographers‎ Heads Of State‎ Colonial Heads‎ Historians‎ Illustrators‎ Journalists‎ Judges‎ Lawyers‎ Librarians‎ Mathematicians‎ Military Personnel‎ Models‎ Musicians‎ Notaries‎ Painters‎ Philosophers‎ Photographers‎ Physicians‎ Poets‎ Politicians‎ Presidents‎ Psychologists‎ Radio Personalities‎ Rappers‎ Rebels‎ Religious Leaders‎ Revolutionaries‎ Sailors‎ Scientists‎ Sculptors‎ Sex Workers‎ Singers‎ Social Scientists‎ Soldiers‎ Songwriters‎ Sportspeople‎ Television Personalities‎ Women By Occupation‎ Writers‎ By Name Desi Arnaz Fulgencio Batista Leo Brouwer Fidel Castro Raúl Castro Celia Cruz Ibrahim Ferrer Osmani García Máximo Gómez Elián González affair Nicolás Guillén José Martí Pablo Milanés Omara Portuondo Silvio Rodríguez Compay Segundo Félix Varela Politics General Castroism Constitution Elections Foreign relations Law Military Government Opposition Presidency Cuba-U.S. Bay of Pigs Invasion Brothers to the Rescue Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba Cuban American Cuban-American lobby Cuban dissident movement Cuban Five Cuban Missile Crisis Elián González affair Guantanamo Bay Naval Base Helms–Burton Act Cuba-U.S. hijackings Luis Posada Carriles Mariel boatlift Operation Northwoods Operation Peter Pan Platt Amendment Spanish–American War U.S. ambassador U.S. embargo U.S. Interests Section Parties Communist Party Christian Democratic Democratic Socialist Current Democratic Social-Revolutionary Democratic Solidarity Liberal Liberal Movement Social Democratic Co-ordination Former parties: Auténtico Cuban National Democratic Union Independent Republican Ortodoxo Popular Socialist Republican (Havana) Security Military Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) Army Navy Air Force Territorial Troops Militia Law enforcement National Revolutionary Police Force Intelligence Military Counterintelligence Directorate Intelligence Directorate Society Censorship Committees for the Defense of the Revolution Education Healthcare Human rights Rationing Sociolismo Scouting and Guiding