Castro

[kingbee]

Considering the tendency towards populism in the rest of Latin America, would you say that Castro is a populist? He uses charisma, a popular enemy, and uses this to stand up 'for the little man' as many populists do, but this time on the world stage, i.e. standing up for the 3rd world.

[TC]

Fidel Castro is a Marxist-Leninist and a socialist, which are naturally popular things to appeal to in a country where they have proven so successful.

But "populism" is a term that suggests that a leader rides to power on people's disaffection with an established elite while co-opting radical sentiments and stabilizing the country politically. This is not at all what Castro did, as he was part of the radical movement that abolished the old elite rather than protecting it, and in any case the revolution has become the establishment.

[Punkerslut]

Originally posted by [email protected] 09, 2007 05:38 pm
Fidel Castro is a Marxist-Leninist and a socialist, which are naturally popular things to appeal to in a country where they have proven so successful.

But "populism" is a term that suggests that a leader rides to power on people's disaffection with an established elite while co-opting radical sentiments and stabilizing the country politically. This is not at all what Castro did, as he was part of the radical movement that abolished the old elite rather than protecting it, and in any case the revolution has become the establishment.
Actually, the Wikipedia definition of Populism is, "Populism, by its traditional definition, is a political doctrine or philosophy that aims to defend the interests of the common people against an entrenched, self-serving or corrupt elite." In this context, Castro is very far from a Populist. As Bakunin always said, the existence of a state is the assuredness that class antagonisms still exist. The greater the state, the greater those antagonisms. If Castro really believed in Populism, or the will of his people, then he'd probably start with dismantling his dictatorship.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Wikipedia sucks. It's not a reliable source.

Fidel is no "populist;" he's a communist.. he's popular, but that doesn't make him a populist.

[Janus]

Populism and certain trends of socialism do share similarities but it doesn't mean that every socialist is by definition a populist exactly. Castro was originally regarded as a populist of some sort with a populist influenced political movement before he swung towards the left and revealed his "true colors".

[Sadena Meti]

Castro started as a nationalist/populist, then became a populist, and then became a relic.

Still, I love him. I have an old photo of him in my library, with a very good cigar next to it. I'll smoke it when he dies or when he gets better. Viva Fidel! A man who dared. He may not have done everything right, but at least he did something, which is more than 99.9999% can claim.

[kingbee]

There are many different definitions of populism. Laclau believed you should analyse discourse and look for two things: 1) an appeal to "the people" 2) a creation of an antagonism between the dominant and dominanted. In that case, Fidel is.

Weyland says it is a charismatic leader who relies on unmediated mass mobilisation. So maybe not?

I'd argue that he was a populist on coming into power as he showed many other populist tenets: he had no ideology to begin at all, created a permanent enemy and rejected democracy in favour of mass mobilisation. However he turned to Marxism-Leninism as a means of legitimation 1961.

[Whitten]

Originally posted by Punkerslut+April 09, 2007 06:58 pm--> (Punkerslut @ April 09, 2007 06:58 pm)
[email protected] 09, 2007 05:38 pm
Fidel Castro is a Marxist-Leninist and a socialist, which are naturally popular things to appeal to in a country where they have proven so successful.

But "populism" is a term that suggests that a leader rides to power on people's disaffection with an established elite while co-opting radical sentiments and stabilizing the country politically. This is not at all what Castro did, as he was part of the radical movement that abolished the old elite rather than protecting it, and in any case the revolution has become the establishment.
Actually, the Wikipedia definition of Populism is, "Populism, by its traditional definition, is a political doctrine or philosophy that aims to defend the interests of the common people against an entrenched, self-serving or corrupt elite." In this context, Castro is very far from a Populist. As Bakunin always said, the existence of a state is the assuredness that class antagonisms still exist. The greater the state, the greater those antagonisms. If Castro really believed in Populism, or the will of his people, then he'd probably start with dismantling his dictatorship. [/b]
The greater the state the greater the class antagonisms, yes, but that doesn't mean the state serves the capitalist class.

[LSD]

But "populism" is a term that suggests that a leader rides to power on people's disaffection with an established elite while co-opting radical sentiments and stabilizing the country politically.

Maybe to you, but I suspect that for most people, a "populist" is merely a political figure who appeals to the population at large, or to large segments thereof, in order to advance their political career.

Certainly that describes Fidel Castro as well as most other so-called "Communist" leaders throughout history.

As to whether or not Castro's politics are populist in the sense of genuinely helping the people at large, I think that's an issue for another thread. The point here is that, without a doubt, his rhetorical style -- that is the manner in which he speaks and promotes his agenda -- is by any reasonable definition "populist".

That's certainly not a bad thing, however. Indeed, pretty much any leftist or communist would be characterized as populist once they enter the political arena. After all, who else are they going to appeal to but the people? The elites?

[kingbee]

The difference between populism and socialism however, is that populism is of the people and not of the system or ideologies. The wisdom lies in the simplicity of the people.

[Lenin II]

Yes, he is a socialist/populist by the definitions presented, I suppose. Except in this case, the "elite" he is protecting his people from is the U.S.

[KC]

He was until he sided with the Soviets. I would still consider him one.

[Idola Mentis]

From observing populist parties here, I would define populism as a party which changes it position according to what seems strategically gainful and popular at the moment. The populist is a political mr. potato-face, the pursuit of power dictates his policy, rather than a wish to implement any particular ideology.

As strange as it might sound, Castro might be accused of having a touch of populism early on. Didn't he align with Soviet and implement leninist policies a while after the revolution?

[PRC-UTE]

I think Janus and Tragic said it well.

[kingbee]

As strange as it might sound, Castro might be accused of having a touch of populism early on. Didn't he align with Soviet and implement leninist policies a while after the revolution?


Yes. In 1961 (two days before the Bay of Pigs) he made the declaration that he was a Marxist Leninist. Before that, in the days before the Revolution, he not only spoke out against communists, but also recieved money from prominent anti-communists for the Granma mission.

As populism is merely an empty vessel ideologically, I'd say that this again shows that his populist tendencies in the early days.

[UndergroundConnexion]

Fidel had read Lenin ec. while being in prison, so he was well initiated in marxsim-leninnsm.

However, think about this, if Fidel would have shouted from the first days after prison release "IM A MOFUCKING COMMUNIST" would he still have gotten all the support? Wouldn't they USA have interevened more?

I believe that Fidel kept his believes to himself until the revolucion was stable, and less fragile.

[The Advent of Anarchy]

Originally posted by Zampanò@May 09, 2007 12:50 pm
He was until he sided with the Soviets. I would still consider him one.
I think he sided with Krushschev's Soviet Union only because of the U.S. Embargo.

[kingbee]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13, 2007 09:52 am
Fidel had read Lenin ec. while being in prison, so he was well initiated in marxsim-leninnsm.

However, think about this, if Fidel would have shouted from the first days after prison release "IM A MOFUCKING COMMUNIST" would he still have gotten all the support? Wouldn't they USA have interevened more?

I believe that Fidel kept his believes to himself until the revolucion was stable, and less fragile.
They intervened a lot anyway! They were pretty pissed off about his nationalisation, which was a part of his nationalist policy anyway, never mind him being a communist.

I just don't believe that he was a communist at all before coming to power, namely for the reasons I've mentioned above.