Written by Elina Pau
The Cuban Revolution was a mass revolution that happened during the years of July 1953- January 1959. The armed uprising was led by Fidel Castro who, following the revolution, ruled Cuba from 1959-2008. This is a considerably long period of leadership and 2008 was only a mere eleven years ago. Consequently, the effects of the revolution are still prevalent in Cuba today. However, it is questionable whether Cuban citizens of today still have to endure the impacts of the Cuban revolution.
The short-term impacts of this revolution were of course the transformation of Cuba to a communist state and the overthrowing of the old dictator, Batista. The new dictator at the time, Fidel Castro, instilled harsher rule upon the Cuban state. However, the long-term consequences of this revolution are the ones still felt in the Cuba by its citizens today. Some of these impacts were positive, whilst some were frowned upon. The more positive impacts include support from the Soviet Union, and of course Castro’s plans to carry the country through progression in health, free education, eradicating racism, and bringing electricity to places like the countryside. According to a study done by BBC News about life in Cuba after Castro, one young Cuban man, aged 20, said, ‘If it wasn’t for the revolution, with my skin colour, I would be a slave or a person who doesn’t count.’ These words give a first-hand display of how Fidel Castro’s revolution has managed to positively affect the young people in Cuba today. The young man proceeds to say ‘I couldn’t be the young university student I am.’ Another woman aged 19, responded by saying ‘Healthcare in Cuba is free. Anyone has access to free healthcare. And for me that is the most important thing’. This only proves how Cuba has benefitted vast amounts due to the revolution that happened during a period of Castro’s ruling. It is very easy to question, however, if this BBC News video is only displaying bias opinions and whether these people are just repeating the same propaganda dictated to them by the government. Is Cuba really still progressing?
It is obvious that the impacts of the revolution were not only progressive and encouraging for the people of Cuba. Directly after the revolution, Cuba’s political and economic states were highly flawed. Castro also imposed fear upon his civilians. He jailed any political opponents, banned newspapers and private businesses’ opposing him, and imposed a limit on the amount of land a citizen could possess. This resulted in a great number of people fleeing the country to places like the USA or elsewhere. Cuba’s population was quickly declining, leading to a decline in the workforce. Therefore, are these damaging impacts still felt by Cuban people today?
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