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MEN DO NOT SHAPE DESTINY; DESTINY PRODUCES THE MAN FOR THE HOUR.
LOD report on: Leadership of Fidel Castro
Submitted by
Group-1 Gitanshu Soni Vedium Vasanth Kumar Ravi Kiran Mukundhan Subramani JVD Prasad
1. INTRODUCTION
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was born near Biran on August 13, 1926. In 1959, he used guerilla warfare to successfully overthrow Cuban leader Batista, and was sworn in as prime minister of Cuba. As prime minister, Castro's government established covert military and economic relations with the Soviet Union, leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served as prime minister until 1976, when he became president of Cuba and remained till 2008. Politically a Marxist-Leninist, under his administration the Republic of Cuba became a oneparty socialist state; industry and businesses were nationalized, and socialist reforms implemented in all areas of society.
2. EARLY LIFE
In his college days he participated in many armed rebellions against right-wing governments in the Dominican Republic and Colombia. He served a year's imprisonment in 1953, after leading a failed armed attack on the Moncada Barracks against Cuban dictator-president Fulgencio Batista. This incident fostered an ongoing opposition to the government and made Castro famous throughout Cuba. Castro was released in 1955 under an amnesty deal with the Batista government. He went to Mexico, where he met Ernesto "Che" Guevara and devised a new strategy to overthrow the Batista regime based on guerrilla warfare. Guevara believed that the plight of Latin America's poor could be rectified only through violent revolution. He joined Castro's group and became an important confidante, shaping Castro's political beliefs. On December 2, 1956, Castro returned to Cuba with a boatload of 81 insurgents near the eastern city of Manzanillo, where Batista's forces killed or captured most of the attackers. Castro, his brother Raul and Guevara were able to escape into the Sierra Maestra mountain range. Over the course of the next two years, again Castro's forces waged a guerrilla war against the Batista government, organizing resistance groups in cities and small towns across Cuba. He ran a parallel government, carry out some agrarian reform, and control provinces with agricultural and manufacturing production. Beginning in 1958, Castro and his forces mounted a series of successful military campaigns throughout Cuba to hold key areas of the country. Along with the loss of popular support and massive desertions in the military, Batista's government collapsed due to Castro's efforts. In
January of 1959, Batista fled to the Dominican Republic. At the age of 32, Castro successfully concluded a classic guerrilla campaign to take control of Cuba. In February 1959, the then Prime Minister Jose Miro Cardona suddenly resigned, and Castro was sworn in as prime minister. The charismatic young Castro nationalized banks and industries, collectivized agriculture, seized more than $1 billion in U.S. assets, jailed his rivals and critics, embraced communism, made new friends in Moscow, and captured the world's attention. In 1960, alarmed by the emergence of a Communist state and potential Soviet satellite 90 miles from Florida, the United States imposed a trade embargo. In 1961, it cut formal diplomatic relations and the failed Bay of Pigs invasion further burnished Castro's credentials as a strongman and implacable U.S. foe. Since then, the U.S. government has worked to undermine Castro's regime by squeezing Cuba's economy. For four and a half decades, many U.S. lawmakers have argued that Castro's refusal to respect fundamental civil liberties compels Washington to destabilize his government on moral grounds. In the process, Castro has created a remarkably durable cult of personality.
3. CASTRO AS LEADER: LEARNINGS
3.1. WHAT TO DO
Charismatic Leader
Fidel Castro was a charismatic leader. He possessed a larger than life personality. He was regarded by large segments of the population as the heaven-sent saviour of the nation. One striking aspect of the Cuban Revolution is the thoroughness and frequency with which the voice and visage of Fidel Castro have blanketed the island.
SOCIALIST: For his people
Castro created "The New Man's Theory” which means work to benefit everyone in the society. He wanted to restore Cuba's wealth, get back the land Cuba lost, and strengthen the nation's identity. For this he did the following.
• • • • • • • •
Implemented almost impossible reforms to nationalize factories and plantations. Wanted to makes his armies stronger for Cuba's defense; created an alliance with the USSR during 1960. Intended to build a socialist state with a state owned, government planning economy. Stopped private profit business so that all of Cuba had equal
job opportunities & boost economy. According to constitution, all Cubans were entitled to receive free medical, hospital, & dental care. All citizens had same rights regardless of who they were. Provided payment for elders and pregnant women workers. Right to free education to highest university level.
Attracting & Winning support of People:
He was a well read person and an incredible lawyer. He used his knowledge of Law to his advantage to convince people to his side and win arguments. Even if people didn’t agree with his ideology, the peasant, who largely made up his support, were swayed by the idea of improving their lives and of gaining land for themselves. However, as Castro based nationalist and populist issues known, the middle class started to side with Castro as well. One of his well known speeches was made as a self-defense in court after the Moncada attack where he said, “But I do not fear prison, as I do not fear the fury of the miserable tyrant who took the lives of 70 of my comrades. Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.” Because the leader is seen as acting in concert with larger historical forces not always visible to more ordinary men, he alone retains the right to determine "correct" behaviour in the service of the Revolution.
Fighting odds with tact:
Castro was known for rejecting all criticism with a ferocious temper and his narcissistic behaviour and unyielding desire for power is most likely what led to his declaration of Cuba as a socialist state, eliminating voting rights, and the banning of outside information that
could question his authority. This could possibly have been the beginning of his complete corruption of power. He over threw Batista by depriving him of allies and forced him to flee, resign, or killed. He eventually fled. He tackled US with help of Soviet Union. Denounced American imperialism & established diplomatic ties (for economic and military aid) with Soviet Union. US made continuous attempts to bring him down. He survived nine U.S. presidents, the collapse of his Soviet benefactor, and four decades of American attempts to undermine his government. He used executions and imprisonments, and forced emigration against Anti Castro Rule supporters, pro-democracy activists and independent journalists. It is known that he provided the option to dissenters to leave Cuba via a port open for them. His elimination included censorship of media. He countered Varela Project with tact. To negate the effect of bill passed to strip him of his leadership he made 99 percent of Cuban population sign a bill saying they want Castro’s leadership. Castro jailed many of the group's members. Since then, Castro has moved to again tighten central planning of the Cuban economy and to limit Cubans' access to U.S. dollars and the Internet.
3.2. WHAT NOT TO DO
Importance of Necessary Skills:
Though a popular socialist and communist, Castro was a failed economist. We know that leadership style should depend on the situation too. He was very effective during the struggle against the Batista Government but one can just question his leadership once he came to power. Should he have vacated his seat to another person who had the skills to steer the Cuban economy at critical times, is a question to ask. He tried to promote his ideologies in the fore front. He believed socialism is the cure to all human problems, economic as well. This policy hindered lot of economic development that could have taken place in the country. Thus, a leadership style should be according to the situation.
Obsession with Power:
Fidel was obsessed with power from a young age, wanting to be in the political and military arena, only because he could then lead, for the sake of leading. He believed that fighting the battle was more important to him than the battle itself. A classic example of his obsession with power can be seen when he collapsed on stage in a speech in 2001 and during operation, he allowed doctors to anesthetize him only from waist down. He had never relinquished his authority. This reveals his stubborn determination to hold off the inevitable hand-over of power. He came back and persuaded Cuban people (and potential rivals at home and abroad) that he remained fully in command. He feared that if Cuba were ruled by someone else—even for a few hours—his revolution might be challenged. This had worked against him. A leader needs to leave gracefully. He was no longer competitive and he should have vacated office for someone else who was better equipped to fight challenges of Cuban economy.
References
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/98822/Fidel-Castro http://www.autentico.org/oa09358.php http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDcastroF.htm http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/02/20/us-cuba-castro-chronology-idUSN1922589220080220 http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/recycled/2008/02/adios_comandante.html
doc_783432468.pdf
Download this file for free at-
http://reliablefiles.com/file/03MSF
MEN DO NOT SHAPE DESTINY; DESTINY PRODUCES THE MAN FOR THE HOUR.
LOD report on: Leadership of Fidel Castro
Submitted by
Group-1 Gitanshu Soni Vedium Vasanth Kumar Ravi Kiran Mukundhan Subramani JVD Prasad
1. INTRODUCTION
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was born near Biran on August 13, 1926. In 1959, he used guerilla warfare to successfully overthrow Cuban leader Batista, and was sworn in as prime minister of Cuba. As prime minister, Castro's government established covert military and economic relations with the Soviet Union, leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served as prime minister until 1976, when he became president of Cuba and remained till 2008. Politically a Marxist-Leninist, under his administration the Republic of Cuba became a oneparty socialist state; industry and businesses were nationalized, and socialist reforms implemented in all areas of society.
2. EARLY LIFE
In his college days he participated in many armed rebellions against right-wing governments in the Dominican Republic and Colombia. He served a year's imprisonment in 1953, after leading a failed armed attack on the Moncada Barracks against Cuban dictator-president Fulgencio Batista. This incident fostered an ongoing opposition to the government and made Castro famous throughout Cuba. Castro was released in 1955 under an amnesty deal with the Batista government. He went to Mexico, where he met Ernesto "Che" Guevara and devised a new strategy to overthrow the Batista regime based on guerrilla warfare. Guevara believed that the plight of Latin America's poor could be rectified only through violent revolution. He joined Castro's group and became an important confidante, shaping Castro's political beliefs. On December 2, 1956, Castro returned to Cuba with a boatload of 81 insurgents near the eastern city of Manzanillo, where Batista's forces killed or captured most of the attackers. Castro, his brother Raul and Guevara were able to escape into the Sierra Maestra mountain range. Over the course of the next two years, again Castro's forces waged a guerrilla war against the Batista government, organizing resistance groups in cities and small towns across Cuba. He ran a parallel government, carry out some agrarian reform, and control provinces with agricultural and manufacturing production. Beginning in 1958, Castro and his forces mounted a series of successful military campaigns throughout Cuba to hold key areas of the country. Along with the loss of popular support and massive desertions in the military, Batista's government collapsed due to Castro's efforts. In
January of 1959, Batista fled to the Dominican Republic. At the age of 32, Castro successfully concluded a classic guerrilla campaign to take control of Cuba. In February 1959, the then Prime Minister Jose Miro Cardona suddenly resigned, and Castro was sworn in as prime minister. The charismatic young Castro nationalized banks and industries, collectivized agriculture, seized more than $1 billion in U.S. assets, jailed his rivals and critics, embraced communism, made new friends in Moscow, and captured the world's attention. In 1960, alarmed by the emergence of a Communist state and potential Soviet satellite 90 miles from Florida, the United States imposed a trade embargo. In 1961, it cut formal diplomatic relations and the failed Bay of Pigs invasion further burnished Castro's credentials as a strongman and implacable U.S. foe. Since then, the U.S. government has worked to undermine Castro's regime by squeezing Cuba's economy. For four and a half decades, many U.S. lawmakers have argued that Castro's refusal to respect fundamental civil liberties compels Washington to destabilize his government on moral grounds. In the process, Castro has created a remarkably durable cult of personality.
3. CASTRO AS LEADER: LEARNINGS
3.1. WHAT TO DO
Charismatic Leader
Fidel Castro was a charismatic leader. He possessed a larger than life personality. He was regarded by large segments of the population as the heaven-sent saviour of the nation. One striking aspect of the Cuban Revolution is the thoroughness and frequency with which the voice and visage of Fidel Castro have blanketed the island.
SOCIALIST: For his people
Castro created "The New Man's Theory” which means work to benefit everyone in the society. He wanted to restore Cuba's wealth, get back the land Cuba lost, and strengthen the nation's identity. For this he did the following.
• • • • • • • •
Implemented almost impossible reforms to nationalize factories and plantations. Wanted to makes his armies stronger for Cuba's defense; created an alliance with the USSR during 1960. Intended to build a socialist state with a state owned, government planning economy. Stopped private profit business so that all of Cuba had equal
job opportunities & boost economy. According to constitution, all Cubans were entitled to receive free medical, hospital, & dental care. All citizens had same rights regardless of who they were. Provided payment for elders and pregnant women workers. Right to free education to highest university level.
Attracting & Winning support of People:
He was a well read person and an incredible lawyer. He used his knowledge of Law to his advantage to convince people to his side and win arguments. Even if people didn’t agree with his ideology, the peasant, who largely made up his support, were swayed by the idea of improving their lives and of gaining land for themselves. However, as Castro based nationalist and populist issues known, the middle class started to side with Castro as well. One of his well known speeches was made as a self-defense in court after the Moncada attack where he said, “But I do not fear prison, as I do not fear the fury of the miserable tyrant who took the lives of 70 of my comrades. Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.” Because the leader is seen as acting in concert with larger historical forces not always visible to more ordinary men, he alone retains the right to determine "correct" behaviour in the service of the Revolution.
Fighting odds with tact:
Castro was known for rejecting all criticism with a ferocious temper and his narcissistic behaviour and unyielding desire for power is most likely what led to his declaration of Cuba as a socialist state, eliminating voting rights, and the banning of outside information that
could question his authority. This could possibly have been the beginning of his complete corruption of power. He over threw Batista by depriving him of allies and forced him to flee, resign, or killed. He eventually fled. He tackled US with help of Soviet Union. Denounced American imperialism & established diplomatic ties (for economic and military aid) with Soviet Union. US made continuous attempts to bring him down. He survived nine U.S. presidents, the collapse of his Soviet benefactor, and four decades of American attempts to undermine his government. He used executions and imprisonments, and forced emigration against Anti Castro Rule supporters, pro-democracy activists and independent journalists. It is known that he provided the option to dissenters to leave Cuba via a port open for them. His elimination included censorship of media. He countered Varela Project with tact. To negate the effect of bill passed to strip him of his leadership he made 99 percent of Cuban population sign a bill saying they want Castro’s leadership. Castro jailed many of the group's members. Since then, Castro has moved to again tighten central planning of the Cuban economy and to limit Cubans' access to U.S. dollars and the Internet.
3.2. WHAT NOT TO DO
Importance of Necessary Skills:
Though a popular socialist and communist, Castro was a failed economist. We know that leadership style should depend on the situation too. He was very effective during the struggle against the Batista Government but one can just question his leadership once he came to power. Should he have vacated his seat to another person who had the skills to steer the Cuban economy at critical times, is a question to ask. He tried to promote his ideologies in the fore front. He believed socialism is the cure to all human problems, economic as well. This policy hindered lot of economic development that could have taken place in the country. Thus, a leadership style should be according to the situation.
Obsession with Power:
Fidel was obsessed with power from a young age, wanting to be in the political and military arena, only because he could then lead, for the sake of leading. He believed that fighting the battle was more important to him than the battle itself. A classic example of his obsession with power can be seen when he collapsed on stage in a speech in 2001 and during operation, he allowed doctors to anesthetize him only from waist down. He had never relinquished his authority. This reveals his stubborn determination to hold off the inevitable hand-over of power. He came back and persuaded Cuban people (and potential rivals at home and abroad) that he remained fully in command. He feared that if Cuba were ruled by someone else—even for a few hours—his revolution might be challenged. This had worked against him. A leader needs to leave gracefully. He was no longer competitive and he should have vacated office for someone else who was better equipped to fight challenges of Cuban economy.
References
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/98822/Fidel-Castro http://www.autentico.org/oa09358.php http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDcastroF.htm http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/02/20/us-cuba-castro-chronology-idUSN1922589220080220 http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/recycled/2008/02/adios_comandante.html
doc_783432468.pdf