Castro, Chap. 5 The Grand Illusion 1- Why is the chapter titled The Grand Illusion?

It describes how the Cubans were blinded by the ambition of the problem of underdevelopment. Cuba it self is a small island, and is dependant on resources in order to stay alive. 2- Why did a cult of personality develop around Castro? How did his speeches change from his pre-revolutionary period to his post-revolutionary period? It developed because to the people, they think he is a comrade and has a good relationship with the masses. His pre-revolutionary speeches were based with biblical and literary allusions to ensure the crowd will get going. Ever since the revolution, Castro speaks straight forward to establish his role as a leader. 3. What was the New Man according to Castro? What does austerity mean? How is it connected to what Castro wanted in Cuba? It was a development of which meant for Castro to devote himself to rose up people to develop more. It was supposed to be present in revolutionary leaders. Austerity means to spend less with benefits and public services to be reduced. Castro wanted to do this because he wanted to make up for lost time. 4. Explain why Castro wanted to attempt his own Great Leap Forward in Cuba. (p81) Why didnt it work? (p82-83) He wanted to educate the people in rural Cuba in order for them not to be illiterate. It was an epic that caused many people to work hard, with state provision with new values of the revolution. It did not work out because the peasantry would have too much consumptions where the economy could not handle it. 5. Explain the meaning of these quotes in relation to the failed economic policies of Castro/Guevara At that time we had many ideas that were well-intentioned, but they were not very realistic; we wanted to jump stages. Che wanted to transitioned the jump to socialism because it was within the Soviet Bloc. Because underdevelopment was present, it was impossible to accomplish. We did not base our arguments on statistical facts, nor historical experience. We dealt with nature in a subjective manner, as if by talking to it we could persuade it. Castro hoped to accomplish tasks that would be dealt as impossible because the rise of consumption led to the fact, that they would have to live off of rations. 6. What were the twin objectives of the Cuban revolution according to Castro? (p86)

To create a Communist society on the basis of a developed economy, and to secure a lasting independence for Cuba. 7. How did the new Soviet economic reforms threaten the twin objectives of the Cuban revolution? The reforms of the Soviet Union did not match what Castro wanted. He wanted that the central task was to get resources under the elite, who would use the surplus to pay for defense and industrialization while having an equal distribution of education, food, and goods. 8. What does it mean that Castro had defied the Eagle and was now baiting the Bear? Did it work? (p88-91) Castro is distance himself from the Soviet union, and now he tackles things on his own. It did not work because it made the project too urgent, with objectives that would be rused. 9. What caused Castro to seek a rapprochement with the Soviet Union in that late 1960s? (p94) Economic pressures drove Castro to seek a rapprochement with the Soviet Union. 10. Why/How did Castro justify the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 (Prague Spring)? It forced Castro to strengthing ties with Moscow. It meant that cuba was in serious debt with the Soviet Union. 11. What were the two primary reasons why the sugar campaign was launched in 1969-1970? Accumulate the resources to develop the island and to retain a measure of independence in the formulation of their policies. 12. Do you see any connections between the sugar campaign and the Great Leap Forward? The Great Leap forward was rushed and people were not ready for it. It was unsuccessful because it would create gaps in the economy. 13. What were the effects of the failed sugar campaign on Castro and his cult of personality? It showed Castros infallibility to create errors. He was able to show the Cubans to look for collectible solutions. He was to be blamed for the personalism that dominated the Cuban political system.