The Cuban Revolution Didn't Happen in a Vacuum

A few thoughts about Castro and the Cuban Revolution.

Context is everything. Without understanding the circumstances surrounding an event, an idea, or a decision, we risk missing its meaning.

Throughout my life I've heard pundits rail against Castro and communism. But if you live long enough and read widely enough, you'll eventually realize that to understand anything you have to probe a little deeper. To understand how a communist dictator came to power 90 miles from our border, you have to ask questions; you have to be curious. 

What happened? And why did it happen?

The Cuban Revolution of 1959 did not emerge in a vacuum. Fidel Castro came to power in a country where political corruption, economic inequality, American influence, and increasingly brutal repression had undermined the legitimacy of the existing government.

The name Batista meant little to me when I was young other than he was supported by the U.S. government. I can't even recall ever knowing or hearing his full name until researching this today. Fulgencio Batista. Whenever he was mentioned it was Batista, like Madonna or Dylan or Beck, Bono and Prince. Unlike the others, the name Batisita rolled off the tongue like a slur. And it's one of the ironies of the Cuban Revolution that the guy we (the USA) propped up helped create the conditions that ushered Castro into power. 

Batista was a force in Cuban politics from the 1930s and served as an elected president from 1940 to 1944. In 1952 he returned to power through a military coup. With presidential elections approaching and Batista facing an uncertain electoral future, he overthrew President Carlos Prío Socarrás and established military rule.

The coup interrupted Cuba's constitutional government and discredited peaceful political competition. Batista subsequently relied on manipulated elections, restrictions on opposition activity, and the security forces to maintain power.

At this point, and when your read further, tell me if it doesn't feel like an echo of the musical Cabaret? 

For Castro, who had been pursuing a political career, the coup became a powerful justification for armed resistance. Before long Batista's police and military became instruments of terror. As opposition intensified, Batista's government increasingly resorted to arresting and imprisoning political opponents, often without due process. Torturing suspected revolutionaries and political prisoners became part of the game. Killing opposition activists and leaving bodies in public places was designed to intimidate others. (cf. The Real Reason They Punish Horse Thieves.)

The censoring of newspapers and suspending constitutional protections also contributed to a growing desire for change. Add the fact that even though Cuba was prosperous, the prosperity was not evenly distributed. Urban professionals and wealthy Cubans enjoyed lifestyles comparable to those in the United States. Meanwhile, many rural families lived without adequate sanitation, electricity, medical care, or dependable employment. 

Nevertheless, the vibe in Cuba dark, menacing, and thinking people were privately questioning. What next?

Because of the Cold War, the Eisenhower admonistration maintained diplomatic recognition, economic ties, and military assistance for most of that period, viewing Batista as an anti-communist partner protecting U.S. business interests. American businesses, deeply embedded in Cuba, adopted a "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" attitude regarding the abuses of the Batista regime. U.S. interests were involved in sugar, utilities, manufacturing, transportation and other industries. Profits were good, investments were paying off. And after hours, Havana was one of Latin America's most glamorous cities, a Vegas of the Caribbean. What's not to like? 

There were, however, American leaders who spoke out against what was going on in Cuba. Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon was one of the most consistent congressional critics. He described Batista’s government as a vicious police state that liquidated opponents and objected strongly to U.S. military aid. Another vocal critic was the Senator from Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy. He characterized support for the regime as backing one of the bloodiest and most repressive dictatorships in Latin American history and linked it to broader economic exploitation of Cuba. Some conspiracy theorists state that this conviction, and his later interference with the Bay of Pigs Invasion, was the catalysts for JFK's assassination in 1963.

In summary, it's pretty clear why so many Cubans--including middle-class professionals, students, intellectuals, and businesspeople--initially welcomed Castro's movement. Families, professionals, and ordinary citizens who might never have supported communism increasingly wanted Batista removed. Ultimately, most wanted a restoration of constitutional democracy. They were not seeking a one-party communist state. 

In the end, they got what they wanted, the end of Batista's beastly reign. But they also got more than they bargained for.

TO BE CONTINUED