The Cuban revolution of 1959 marked a profound turning point on the island, dividing interpretations over six decades later. For some, it represented the promise of social justice, access to education, and greater equality in a country marked by strong inequalities.
For others, it paved the way for an authoritarian political system, with concentration of power, economic scarcity, repression, and mass emigration. Before Fidel Castro, Cuba was a dynamic economy, but with poverty and pronounced inequalities, a scenario that fueled the revolutionary discourse against the oligarchy and American influence.
The new regime implemented large-scale nationalizations and far-reaching social policies, such as literacy and universal access to health and education, recognized even by critics. However, the price was extreme centralization, limitation of civil liberties, and the end of party pluralism. The Cuban economy faced difficulties, depending on the Soviet Union and, after its collapse, plunging into a deep crisis known as the "special period." Accusations of Fidel Castro accumulating personal wealth contrast with the discourse of equality and austerity, making his image difficult to fit into a single narrative.
