What Political Classification does Cuba Fit Into
As outlined by Juan Linz, totalitarian regimes are characterized by three main attributes and regimes that are truly totalitarian fit these qualities accordingly. ... Given this information, we can now apply it to Fidel Castro’s regime in Cuba. To consider whether or not Cuba fits into this definition of a totalitarian regime, one should consider to what degree Castro’s regime fits each of the three given attributes. ... Castro’s passions are said to be, “maintaining undiluted power, making Cuba a world class actor with major international influence, and transforming Cuban society,” in that order of importance. ... Executions of political suspects and trials of former government officials soon frequented the televisions and censorship was imposed as well. ... Due to all of this, it seems quite clear that Castro’s regime in Cuba fits the characteristic of monism for the totalitarian model (Thomas, Fauriol, Weiss, 6-9). ... In March of 1959, shortly after he came into power, he declared a 50% reduction in rental rates along with a diminution in electric an telephone rates. ... Only one year later, Cuba‘s illiteracy rate plummeted to 3. ... In Cuba’s society of today, there are three main sectors of support for Castro. ... When the initial assumption of “everyone gives and everyone receives” came into play, people were enthusiastic at the beginning and did their part to “better Cuban society. ... To deal with this, Castro put into action an “Anti-Loafing Law” in 1971 to punish those who missed work too often with no excuse. ... Since Castro’s reign in Cuba exhibits each of the three aspects of the totalitarian model, does this make it a totalitarian regime? ... Castro is often ruthless in enforcing his laws, executing his citizens for disobeying, sending people in political positions to exile for disagreeing with him, and forcing other citizens into work camps for not contributing enough on the work force (Schmeer, 56). Perhaps the heaviest argument against the classification of Cuba as a totalitarian regime is the evidence of limited pluralism, an attribute of authoritarian regimes.