comp&cont Castro and Lenin emergence

• historical context:

  Lenin

  • rose to power during the tumultuous period of the 20th century
  • Russian empire was weakened by its involvement in WWI and the discontent among the masses was high due to economic hardships and the autocratic rule of the tsar
• historical context:

  Castro

  • came to power in Cuba in the late 1950s, overthrowing the authoritarian regime of batista
  • a small island nation heavily influenced by the US
  • his rise occurred in the midst of Cold War tensions between the US and the USSR
• Ideology:

  Lenin

  • a marxist revolutionary who led the bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party
  • advocated for the overthrow of the capitalist system, the establishment of a socialist state, and the eventual transition to communism
• Ideology:

  Castro

  • inspired by marxist ideology, but his particular brand of revolution was influenced by nationalist systems as well
  • sought to overthrow the corrupt and oppressive Batista regime and implemented social reforms to benefit the Cuban people
• Methods of seizing power:

  Lenin

  • his rise to power culminated in the October Revolution of 1917, where the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin overthrew the Provisional Government in Petrograd (St Petersburg)
  • the bolsheviks capitalised on popular discontent, particularly among workers and soldiers, and seized key institutions to establish their control
• Methods of seizing power:

  Castro

  • his rise to power began with the 1953 attack on the Moncada Barracks, which failed but brought him national attention.
  • later he led the successful guerrilla campaign in the Sierra Maestra mountains, gaining support from peasants and urban workers
  • Batista's regime collapsed in 1959, and Castro assumed power
• International Context:

  Lenin

  • his rise to power occurred during a time of global upheaval, with WWI raging and socialist movements gaining momentum across Europe
  • the bolshevik revolution had significant implications for international politics, leading to the formation of the Soviet Union and sparking fears of communist revolutions elsewhere