Fidel Castro, to establish a totalitarian regime, began by eliminating the free press, the Constitution and the political parties, which were replaced by a single party: the Communist Party.
HAVANA.- One of the most influential works of universal literature, The Prince from the florentine Niccolò Machiavelli —written in 1513, in the middle of the Renaissance—, was surely read with absolute attention by Fidel Castro. Possibly, much of the perfidious political skill attributed to the late dictator comes from the lessons he extracted from this book: the cunning to avoid obstacles, a morality above good and evil, the absence of scruples and the ability to deceive.
Fidel Castro put Machiavelli’s teachings into practice to the letter during his extensive dictatorial regime, maintaining absolute control in all spheres and directing the country as he pleased, as if it were his own property.
Machiavelli assured that no triumph would be permanent without force. Fidel Castro, to establish a totalitarian regime, began by eliminating the free press, the Constitution and the political parties, which were replaced by a single party: the Communist Party. He shot or imprisoned thousands of opponents; seized private property and placed them under state control; He replaced the Army and the National Police with his guerrilla army and created a security apparatus advised by the Soviet KGB and the East German Stasi.
“In all States the primary goal, the constant objective, is the maintenance of their integrity, avoiding social disintegration… Force maintains cohesion.” These ideas connect directly with the above. Every time circumstances required modifying something without altering the essence of the system, Fidel Castro resorted to this conception. And he always maintained absolute surveillance over the population. To this end, he created the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), among other so-called “mass organizations,” made up of faithful members who responded to his mandates.
Following Machiavelli’s advice, Fidel Castro never waited for the adversary’s action: he always prevented it. “Attacking, destroying the enemy, doing it all at once, ensures the existence of the Principality,” stated Machiavelli. And he added: “The important thing is that the State remains standing in any way.” That precept was key for Fidel Castro, and his followers continue to apply it every time they perceive any danger.
“If the natural inclinations of evil and violence are necessary for the preservation of the State, the Prince should not worry about censure, because, all things considered, if what resembles virtue would lead you to ruin, it is better to use voluntary violence that will procure your salvation and well-being.”
Since 1959 and until today, any dissidence or demonstration of rejection of the regime has been repressed.
Machiavelli said: “A country accustomed to living under the command of a single man, that is, a Prince, cannot easily preserve its freedoms.”
He also recommended to rulers: “At convenient times of the year, you should distract the people with festivals and shows.” That advice was systematically followed by Fidel Castro to gain popular sympathy, distract and better control citizens.
Definitely, The Prince It was a true “Bible” for Fidel Castro, who during his regime applied its teachings rigorously. Those who read the book will be able to verify it. In many current editions appear the marginal comments made by Napoleon Bonaparte. Fidel Castro may have done the same.
