Fidel Castro

Extract

[...] In an ironic turn of events, to recover from this economic slump and failed industrialization, Castro decided that in order to build up the technology and improve the industry in Cuba, the country needed to build up their sugar production. The harvest to be sold for hard currency with which they could buy supplies. For the season of 1969-70, Castro encouraged the Cubans to turn out a harvest of 10 million tons, the most ever harvested. Castro traveled the countryside and preached about this goal, and he even worked in the cane fields himself. [...]

[...] This was especially dangerous with sugar, as it was subject to the boom and bust international market. At the same time as this is occurring, Castro is trying to industrialize the nation, as well. However, this becomes difficult due to the exile of so many upper-level Cuban citizens. The attempts of Castro to reorganize Cuba's agriculture and industrialize the country fail for several reasons. The resources and manpower of the country were spread too thin, and the country was trying to accomplish too much, too fast. Also, the sugar market collapsed and greatly hurt the economy. [...]

[...] Fidel Castro Fidel Castro came into power in Cuba on January He obtained power through a 25-month revolution. Despite the use of guerilla warfare, the revolution was fairly bloodless. By this time Castro was a beloved figure in Cuba, regarded as a national hero. According to Sebastian Balfour's work Castro: Profiles in Power, Castro's “objective was nothing less than the transformation of Cuba into a developed and independent nation. He intended to achieve this extraordinary feat by mobilizing the island's internal resources.” After Castro took control of the country, his policies and allegiances put forth to achieve this goal took many twists and turns, and many of his decisions and actions can be termed ‘paradoxical'. [...]