Fidelismo

Fidelismo is the political movement and ideology associated with Fidel Castro, combining Cuban revolutionary nationalism, socialism, and opposition to U.S. influence.

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Cuban nationalism: A political tradition emphasizing Cuban sovereignty, national identity, and independence from foreign control. Fidelismo recast Cuban sovereignty as a central aim of revolution and state policy.
Cuban Communist Party: The ruling communist party of Cuba, formed in its present structure in 1965 under Fidel Castro’s leadership. It institutionalized the revolution and became the governing vehicle of Fidelismo.
Cuban health care system: Cuba’s state-run health system, organized around universal access and a large network of primary care. The revolutionary government made public health a central social commitment.
Guevarism: A revolutionary doctrine associated with Ernesto “Che” Guevara, emphasizing guerrilla struggle and international revolution. Guevarism shared Fidelismo’s revolutionary roots but placed greater emphasis on exporting armed struggle.
Fidel Castro: A Cuban revolutionary and head of government who led Cuba from 1959 until 2008. His leadership and political ideas define the movement’s name and public identity.
José Martí: A Cuban writer and independence leader whose thought and political work helped shape Cuban nationalism. Castro invoked Martí as an intellectual predecessor for a sovereign, socially just Cuba.
Committees for the Defense of the Revolution: Neighborhood organizations established in Cuba in 1960 to mobilize support for the revolution and monitor local activity. These committees extended revolutionary organization into everyday neighborhood life.
Cuban education system: Cuba’s publicly funded education system, which provides schooling from primary education through university. Expanded education became a lasting achievement claimed by the revolutionary state.
Trotskyism: A Marxist political tradition associated with Leon Trotsky, advocating international revolution and opposition to bureaucratic rule. Trotskyists criticized the Soviet-aligned political model adopted by Fidelismo.
Raúl Castro: A Cuban revolutionary and politician who succeeded his brother Fidel as Cuba’s head of state in 2008. He helped build the revolutionary state and later managed its continuity after Fidel’s rule.