History of the Cuban Revolution

Episode 14- The Orthodox

The corruption and violence of the Grau regime takes a toll on the Autenticos, as their firebrand, Senator Eddy Chibas, causes a split in the party.

Episode 13-The Autenticos

President Ramon Grau San Martin and his party, the Autenticos, come to power in 1944 and make a mess of things.

Episode 12- The Second Republic

Batista inaugurated as President with great fanfare. We explore where this promising democratic experiment will lead and cover the second World War.

Episode 11 Part 2- Marxism: A Spectre Haunting the Podcast

We explore the theory of historical materialism, and how Marxism survived the voyage across the Atlantic to adapts to Cuban conditions. 

Episode 11 Part 1- Marxism: A Spectre Haunting the Podcast

In this episode I take a break from Cuban history to explain Marxism as we get closer to the revolution. Indebted to Alex Callinicos's The Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx for helping me summarize the theory.

Episode 10- The Musical Chairs of General Batista

Cuba enters the rough 1930s, a decade marred by violence, economic contraction, and barracks rule. It exits with a new, progressive constitution, and a Republic.

Episode 9 Part 2- The Revolution of 1933

The One Hundred Days Government, in an uneasy alliance with Batista, battles its opposition and is swept away by counter-revolution.

Episode 9 Part 1- The Revolution of 1933

Batista's mutiny turns into a revolution as a pentarchy briefly forms, only to be swept away in 5 days by a reformist student staffed government.