Cuban Anarchism: The History of a Movement

by Frank Fernández, Charles Bufe (Translator)

This inspiring history of the Cuban anarchist movement is also a history of the Cuban labor movement. It covers both from their origins in the mid-19th century to the present, and ends with an enlightening analysis of the failure of the Castro dictatorship.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Anarchism, Labor

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[NEFAC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the full review at http://nefac.net/en/node/177

Reviewed by Danielarturo

This is the long awaited elaboration of his 1987 essay, "Cuba: the Anarchists and Liberty." The book recounts the history of the Cuban labor movement through its inception in the 1850's, to the overthrowing of the Batista regime by Fidel Castro and the 26th of July Movement, and the subsequent neutralization of the Cuban anarchist movement on the island. The book deals with many issues still much debated within anarchist circles, notably the issues of national liberation struggles, the role of anarchists in authoritarian revolutionary movements, and the Cuban Revolution itself. I found Fernandez to put his energy into three interrelated "projects" in putting together this book: (1) to recover the eclipsed history of the Cuban anarchist movement, so centrally tied to the history of the Cuban labor movement; (2) to recount the central problems of the Cuban Revolution, particularly in its institutionalized form after 1959; (3) to relate the often contradictory reaction of the international anarchist movement to allegations made by Cuban anarchists about Fidel Castro's government and the situation in Cuba.

Fernandez does an excellent job piecing together the first decades of Cuba's anarchist movement.

Fernandez spends considerable time recounting the experience of the exiled Cuban anarchists, particularly in relation to the larger international anarchist community, which in large part continued to uncritically support the openly (after early 1961) Marxist-Leninist government.

Fernandez has definitely done his research. Fernandez bogs us down in the minutiae of details of little interest to most readers. At the same time Fernandez misses many of those questions which are of interest to many readers, questions of broader trends in the history of Cuban anarchism. He barely addresses issues of strategy, theory, or the relationship of urban workers to rural workers (he barely mentions the countryside at all, which is strange as Cuba is overwhelmingly rural)

My main problems with 'Cuban Anarchism: the History of a Movement' stem from what I believe to be Fernandez's tendency to lose all ability to formulate an effective argument when the issue of the Cuban Revolution comes up. In contrast to other anarchist critiques of "communist" regimes, notably Berkman's The Russian Tragedy, Fernandez seems to go well out of his way to paint the most damning picture of life after the Revolution as possible, often making questionable statements or relying on unproveable allegations.

The facts, when clearly laid out, are damning enough, but Fernandez cannot seem to resist making his case weaker by pushing it so hard. Unfortunately, this may make people discount what he has to say on the subject.

All writing is partisan. There is no such thing as neutrality, especially in writing history, but not all historical writing is equally obscured by one's partisan perspective. Writers willing to be more critical of
themselves and of the movements to which they belong, as well as of their enemies, create more valuable work in that they allow readers a more nuanced understanding of the historical issues at play. The Cuban government has an incredible propaganda apparatus at its disposal. In order to effectively combat this, one needs to be as precise as possible. Unfortunately Fernandez is at his weakest when critiquing the present government.

This book comes at an important time, for Fidel Castro, nearing 80, will not be comandante en jefe too much longer. The Cuban people must soon decide how they will organize their lives, work, and communities in a post-Castro era. By bringing this rich, but suppressed history out of the closet, and by reviving historical memory, Fernandez takes the first step in renewing anarchism as a historical possibility for the Cuban people.

[Michael H. Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

No es demasiado prolija la historia del anarquismo cubano y el libro se resiente en su primera mitad por ello y por la falta de un buen archivo que testimonie la actividad del anarcosindicalismo cubano. Está claro que estuvo muy lejos de ser importante en la historia de Cuba, no digo ya hegemónico, ¿dónde lo fue?

El libro es por momentos un alegato en favor del movimiento anarquista y anarcosindicalista, lo que lo lleva a querer ser algo más que un simple acierto historiográfico y a que sobren algunos giros y frases demasiado entusiastas. Es cierto que pocos movimientos han sido más atacados y vilipendiados que el anarquismo y en muchos casos con bien ganada justicia por querer posicionarse con frecuencia a la izquierda de la izquierda (como el título del libro de Sam Dolgoff), pero también por sus extremismos y sus actos violentos.

Mejora considerablemente en sus últimos capítulos, donde se nota que el autor está en pleno dominio argumental e historiográfico para ilustrar la lucha de los libertarios contra el régimen castrista y sus valedores y "fellow travelers" de muchas partes del mundo que veían a los exiliados anarquistas como aliados de Estados Unidos y agentes imperialistas.

[Ian Chinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long known that Anarchists were the major factor in the Cuban labor movement for decades, but this book really filled in the long history of struggle in that country. I was both taken aback by the scale and strength of the movement, its relationship with Marti, as well as its participation well into the 1959 Cuban revolution. It also helped me further develop my analysis on the Cuban revolution and the absolute destructive role it played on silencing devoted anarchist organizations and militants.

Lastly it makes me further respect the role of anarchists in the Cuban diaspora as they are really between a rock and a hard place when it comes to being both libertarian and communist. A must read for anyone who wants an external narrative to the Cuban Communist Party and to the right wing Cuban population in the US. It is a brutal exposition of the way many anarchists in the world turned their backs on their comrades and ignored their own structural critiques in a romanticized version of events.

[Vladimir · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you skip the bizarrely off topic introduction, this is an excellent book.

[chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a style quite similar to that of Paul Avrich, Fernandez documents the activities of the Anarchist movement in Cuba up to and during Castro's rise to power, using lots of primary sources , such as anarchist publications of the time. He minces no words in the process. Altogether an excellent book, save the disgustingly arrogant introduction by Chaz Bufe, who, as I recall, didn't say a word about Cuba and instead rants about how he hates primitivists and how they, Ted Kacyznski (who he supposes to be their leader), are all cowards, and just downright un-anarchisty.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 2 out of 5]

This sometimes seemed more concerned with arguments between various disciplines of anarchism than with telling a history. So, a bit thin but interesting. A general knowledge of Cuba's history would serve you well.

[Margaret]

Exploitation by the Spanish ruling class, massive importation of African slaves to harvest sugar cane, coffee and tobacco, and a labor strike in 1865 - all this on the first two pages.

[Ash Ponders · Rating 4 out of 5]

An obituary for a movement crushed between Capital and Commune.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's painstaking research and attention to detail is obvious in the writing of this book. I didn't know much about this movement until reading this.