Defending the Revolution through Labor Organization and Spontaneity in the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba, 1961–1965
The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) were one of the most important mass organizations in revolutionary Cuba. During the 1960s, the CDR developed a slew of actions among the Cuban masses, organizing cultural, political, and economic activities that shaped the revolutionary process...
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Cambridge University Press
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author | Juan Carlos Medel |
author_facet | Juan Carlos Medel |
author_sort | Juan Carlos Medel |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) were one of the most important mass organizations in revolutionary Cuba. During the 1960s, the CDR developed a slew of actions among the Cuban masses, organizing cultural, political, and economic activities that shaped the revolutionary process from below. Through their work, the CDR gave meaning to their own idea of Cuban socialism. In the context of revolutionary upheaval, they were born as mass organizations to organize political surveillance against counterrevolutionary enemies. But the CDR also deployed productive power that sought to improve the lives of fellow Cubans. Organizing workers to solve local problems helped to reimagine the purpose of labor as a resource for public utility. For moments, the CDR even became the state. This article highlights the crucial role of the CDR members in the revolutionary process and their impact on the everyday lives of Cuban people. |
format | Article |
id | doaj-art-f39a579736424bce9fc8fa81f1237e7d |
institution | Kabale University |
issn | 1542-4278 |
language | English |
publisher | Cambridge University Press |
record_format | Article |
series | Latin American Research Review |
spelling | doaj-art-f39a579736424bce9fc8fa81f1237e7d2024-12-13T11:21:59ZengCambridge University PressLatin American Research Review1542-427811610.1017/lar.2024.62Defending the Revolution through Labor Organization and Spontaneity in the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba, 1961–1965Juan Carlos Medel0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1581-1765Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, ChileThe Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) were one of the most important mass organizations in revolutionary Cuba. During the 1960s, the CDR developed a slew of actions among the Cuban masses, organizing cultural, political, and economic activities that shaped the revolutionary process from below. Through their work, the CDR gave meaning to their own idea of Cuban socialism. In the context of revolutionary upheaval, they were born as mass organizations to organize political surveillance against counterrevolutionary enemies. But the CDR also deployed productive power that sought to improve the lives of fellow Cubans. Organizing workers to solve local problems helped to reimagine the purpose of labor as a resource for public utility. For moments, the CDR even became the state. This article highlights the crucial role of the CDR members in the revolutionary process and their impact on the everyday lives of Cuban people.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1542427824000622/type/journal_articleCuban socialismhegemonypopular organizationsocialismo Cubanohegemoníaorganización popular |
spellingShingle | Juan Carlos Medel Defending the Revolution through Labor Organization and Spontaneity in the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba, 1961–1965 Latin American Research Review Cuban socialism hegemony popular organization socialismo Cubano hegemonía organización popular |
title | Defending the Revolution through Labor Organization and Spontaneity in the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba, 1961–1965 |
title_full | Defending the Revolution through Labor Organization and Spontaneity in the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba, 1961–1965 |
title_fullStr | Defending the Revolution through Labor Organization and Spontaneity in the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba, 1961–1965 |
title_full_unstemmed | Defending the Revolution through Labor Organization and Spontaneity in the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba, 1961–1965 |
title_short | Defending the Revolution through Labor Organization and Spontaneity in the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba, 1961–1965 |
title_sort | defending the revolution through labor organization and spontaneity in the committees for the defense of the revolution in cuba 1961 1965 |
topic | Cuban socialism hegemony popular organization socialismo Cubano hegemonía organización popular |
url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1542427824000622/type/journal_article |
work_keys_str_mv | AT juancarlosmedel defendingtherevolutionthroughlabororganizationandspontaneityinthecommitteesforthedefenseoftherevolutionincuba19611965 |