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How did Castro consolidate and maintain political control in Cuba? -…
How did Castro consolidate and maintain political control in Cuba?
Communist Party
M26 was a guerrilla army
Castro needed political experience (PSP), it had prior governmental experience
Castro hoped to fuse with the more radical wing of his movement -> strengthen his control
July 1961
M26JM merged with PSP -Z ORI (Integrated Rev. Organisation)
Anibal Escalante
- ORI's Organisation Secretary (powerful), gave preference to his old PSP commanders -> more likely to be loyal to him.
March 1962
Castro denounced Escalante for "sectarianism" and removed him from his post - almost half of it's membership was expelled
End of 1965
revolutionary power had been consolidated and Castro had established his pre-eminence over all potential rivals
Podar Popular
Trade Unions
November 1959 - Confederation of Cuban Worker (CTC)
Castro pushed for "unity" with the communists
1970 - opposition emerged from the trade unions and the workers -> Castro speech in which he promised for more democratic methods and greater delegation of powers from the centre
Univertities
Castro intervened in the elections and Cubelas won (who later aligned the FEU closer to Marxism-Leninism)
The PCC
ROLE: attempt to integrate citizens by "promoting the development of social consciousness and society" by trying to persuade people to put the society's needs above the individuals.
Historian Hobart Spalding - influence of the PCC as suffocating
Historian Peter Roman - party did not meddle in the operation of people's power.
Early Government structure
January 1959 Castro formed the Office of Revolutionary Plans and Co-ordination (ORPC) - unofficial committee - soon created
dual power
between
ORCP and the cabinet
February - Castro became prime minister
April - suspension of elections
May - National Institute of Agrarian Reform (Castro was its' president) - ROLE: deal with issues of agrarian reform and industrial development, quickly became the effective government
June - communists were increasingly appointed to administrative posts, Urruria began to criticise the growing influence of communism
November - moderates or liberals had resigned or been forced out of office. The removal of anti-communists and non-communists resulted in a new coalition containing several communists.
Ideology