(en) France, Organisation Communiste Libertarie: Is there a "new left" in Cuba? by Marie-Laure Geoffray (fr)

In this article, originally published in German in the August issue of the journal 
Analysis und Kritik, Marie Laure Geoffray examines the conditions for the emergence and 
contours of a Cuban "new left", able to articulate the refusal of capitalist restoration 
process with a criticism of the regime and an emancipation policy strategy. ---- Liberal 
or conservative criticism of the Cuban revolutionary government is most audible in the 
Western media. Indeed, since 1959, a powerful Cuban diaspora was held in Miami, where she 
has created tools of communication ( press, radio, television) have gained a large 
audience, not only local, but also national and internationally. In addition, many Cuban 
exiles made ??political careers in the Republican Party and some Members of Congress, 
where they have a power to influence. Maintaining the embargo established in 1962 against 
the Cuban government, is linked to the strength of this influence, while the failure of 
this policy is obvious. This diaspora politically organized remains a major counterweight 
to the current Cuban government. It indeed works as a relay and a sounding board for the 
liberal and conservative opposition to the government of Raul Castro active in the island.
 
In Cuba, criticism has long been stifled. It could be with the revolution or against the 
revolution, to borrow a famous phrase of Fidel Castro. This dichotomy imposed positionings 
was endorsed by associations and networks to support the Cuban revolution, which had the 
effect of discouraging any critical position left the revolutionary process.
 
With the fall of the Berlin Wall, this type of criticism is more apparent as completely 
obsolete in a world where capitalism had finally triumphed. While some initiatives left 
critics emerge during this period ( Paideia, Tercera Opci?n ), they are quickly censored 
and fail to get the attention of the international media, unlike the more liberal 
opposition is gradually consolidating in associations, parties and campaigns ( Christian 
Liberation Movement, Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, Varela 
Project ). It is therefore not until the late 1990s that gradually builds to a critical 
perspective Cuba left the revolutionary government. It should also be talking about 
prospects in the plural, as the criticism from the left has grown and diversified. Does 
this mean a "new left " as many analysts argue ?
 
A strong social and political diversity
 
The opposition to the Cuban government, including left, is primarily characterized by the 
construction of opposition parties, whose main activity was to develop alternative 
political programs that the revolutionary government. This is for example the case of the 
Social Democratic Party Progressive Arc, directed by Manuel Cuesta Morua. When the 
left-wing critique is not organized well, it remained strongly influenced by political 
socialization of its protagonists in the Cuban revolutionary institutions.
 
This is the case of the current Participatory and Democratic Socialism ( SPD: www.cuba- 
spd.com ), founded by a former senior official of the Ministry of the Interior and former 
member of the Cuban Communist Party, which has little local popular support. So when the 
C?tedra Haydee Santamaria, then the Critical Observatory (network whose members are 
C?tedra and SPD ) have emerged, social and political diversity of their hosts ( 
libertarians, environmentalists, anti-racist activists, community activists, committed 
against violence access to new technologies or anti -GMO battle ), their anti 
-authoritarian credo, and their similar to the anti-globalization movement patterns of 
horizontal organization, have emerged as innovative. This movement has indeed both a 
strong local presence in the neighborhoods and in the intellectual community, and 
transnational extension through woven with neo-Marxist and libertarian currents in Latin 
America, the United States and links in Europe, particularly through their blog ( 
www.observatoriocriticodesdecuba.wordpress.com ).
 
At the same time, the emergence of the "new left" should be seen in a wider dynamic : the 
formation of a political opposition on the left ( of the social democracy libertarian 
movement ) against the opposition front orientation liberal, already highly organized and 
visible. Beyond the "new left" of social and political spaces plural left are structured 
in effect around the legacy of the Cuban revolution they claim part, especially its values 
??of social justice and national sovereignty. These are the cycles of workshops and 
debates research center Juan Marinello, the Thursday meetings of the magazine Temas ( the 
last Thursday of each month http://www.temas.cult.cu/jueves.php ), conferences and debates 
to Felix Varela Foundation, which now houses the magazine Espacio laical ( 
http://espaciolaical.org ), etc.. The discussions will also take place online, blogs 
interposed, or on information and opinion platforms, such as Havana Times ( 
www.havanatimes.org ), where the majority of publications are made by Cubans on the 
island. Abroad, the Cuban news platform Cuba Encuentro ( www.cubaencuentro.com ) is a 
transnational space of convergence of political sensitivities left, as published as the 
Cuban diaspora that Cubans on the island. In addition, other Hispanic activists like 
www.rebelion.org www.kaosenlared.org websites and turns some of the debates that occupy 
the left constitution.
 
Three structural divisions
 
The emerging left Cuba is plural, it is also fragmented, qu'occulte the notion of "new 
left". Several divisions structure indeed positions left Cuba and Cubans in the diaspora. 
And these divisions through what has been called the "new left." Moreover, the notion of 
"new left" seems to refer to a political supporter current, which does not correspond to 
the empirically observable reality.
 
The first cleavage is built around the announcement of the implementation of economic 
reforms by Raul Castro 1 August 2010. These reforms (dismissal of some officials, partial 
liberalization of small trade, liberalization of the purchase / sale of vehicles and real 
estate, etc.. ) Are clearly in the direction of greater market openness. While the 
Progressive Arc, social -democratic orientation, would have liked more structural economic 
reforms, which have led to the creation of a true market economy [1], the Critical 
Observatory ( OC ) moves to the contrary against economic liberalization. For OC, 
liberalization is not a solution to overcome the state property that has characterized 
Cuban socialism. Liberalization can lead only to create a new duality, not between the 
state and the workers, but between employers and workers, and thus the growth of social 
inequality. However, coop?rativiser would give workers real control over their working 
tools, the organization of this work and its compensation [2]. This cleavage is the only 
clearly distinguishes between a reformist Left and Progressive Arc as an anti-capitalist 
left, with the OC.
 
The second cleavage between those in favor of a prime focus on social justice and those 
who claim a part of the liberal legacy on individual rights, including civil and political 
rights. A majority of the Critical Observatory claiming a Marxism that gives priority to 
egalitarisation social and economic conditions, including the right to a dignified life, 
shelter, work and social services base in terms of health and education. However, several 
members of OC instead emphasize the relevance of the liberal legacy, in terms of 
individual rights (the right to vote, freedom of expression and assembly ) [3]. The 
cleavage is therefore not so much here between social democrats and anti -capitalist 
between heirs of an anti -liberal Marxist tradition and promoters of a link between 
equality and freedom.
 
The third cleavage strategically opposes all Cuban political opposition, both on the 
island and the outside part of the Cuban " new left." For most Cubans politicized and 
wishing to contribute to social and political change in Cuba, it is necessary to establish 
an opposition front rallying beyond any partisan divide. This position is shared by some 
members of the SPD and the C?tedra who signed one of the most unifying international 
petitions last year asking for " immediate rights and citizens basic freedoms " including 
the right to the creation of parties, unions, associations, etc.. [4] Signed by Cuban 
political affiliation pluralistic, liberal and conservative, anti-capitalist, Republicans 
and social Democrats, this petition has been criticized by some of Cuba's " new left." For 
these activists, representative democracy, and in particular the multi-party system, are 
discredited because they fail to take into account the aspirations of citizens to unequal 
and less worthy life ( movement Occupy, Indignados, etc.. ). These activists are 
characterized by a more libertarian than the others and also more bass player orientation, 
Latin American sense, that is to say, they give a particularly strong local focus of 
political action, community work to the neighborhood level.
 
So if there is indeed a Cuban " new left ", as current policy characterized primarily by 
an anti-authoritarian, anti -capitalist and bass player positioning, it is plural and 
activists who claim to do s' not always agree on the political strategy of the movement. 
It must be said that there are many Cubans who feel they belong to this movement without 
wishing to adopt an ideological and strategic positioning well defined. The "New Left" is 
therefore rather a nebula which aims primarily to experiment, that is to say, to practice 
new forms of sociability, citizenship and social action, art and politics at the local 
level rather than building in a tightly structured political power. This fact is causing 
more of a misunderstanding between the activists and relatives of the "new left " in Cuba 
and intellectuals and activists in the diaspora and transnational networks that wish to 
support emergence of strong left in the post- revolutionary Cuba. [5]
 
Marie Laure Geoffray
 
Published on the website of " mishaps " on 29.08.2013
 
http://www.contretemps.eu/
 
Notes: http://oclibertaire.free.fr/spip.php?article1404
 
1. See the interview " Los opositores tienen la palabra : Manuel Cuesta Morua " CUBANET, 9 
January 2012.
2. Daisy Valera, " Las cooperativas that queremos " blog Review, July 13, 2012 Observatory.
3. See the debate between Armando Chaguaceda ( longtime member of OC ) and Julio Cesar 
Guanche, which belongs to the nebula left without specific affiliate.
4. The full text of the petition and a response made ??by a member of OC to explain why he 
did not sign the text.
5. See the blog post of Erasmo Calzadilla in response to criticism of Haroldo Dilla on the 
new left "pure and lonely."
 
The critical, anti-capitalist and anti -authoritarian news in Cuba and the Cuban 
leadership, the emergence of new movements and new challenges in the great Caribbean 
island is, since February 2010, here:
 
Pol?mica Cubana http://www.polemicacubana.fr/
 
The creation of our blog coincided with meetings of the fourth Observatory Review of 
Havana. From 12 to 15 March 2010 were held in San Jose de las Lajas, a town near the 
capital, dating from the fourth critical Observatory Cuba. The event, coordinated by 
Hayd?e Santamar?a Chair, brought lots of people from all over the island, and who had the 
opportunity to present to listen and consider the libertarian ideals and practices 
self-management as an alternative to contemporary Cuban society.
Two editors of this blog attended San Jos? de las Lajas.
We are a group of people gathered around a goal, to make known the new social and cultural 
scene, alternative, anti-establishment, which stands today in the island where informal 
groups of young artists, musicians, academics, regroup and gather around discussions, 
lectures, cultural events, happenings... regardless of the official structures. These 
forms of protest then obviously not interested in the mainstream western media... or the 
regime's media who prefer not to talk about it.
 
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