Page 58 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol III

guevara, che 877

Che Guevara,
Socialism and Man

in Cuba 2
Guevara represented a humanist Marxism, offering new
At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that
possibilities for communists opposed to Stalinism.
the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings
Although a diligent bureaucrat, the position did not suit
of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine rev-
him. In 1965, Guevara “disappeared” from Cuba, quietly
olutionary lacking this quality. Perhaps it is one
organizing a disastrous guerrilla war for independence in
of the great dramas of the leader that he must
the Congo. Despite renouncing his Cuban citizenship in
combine a passionate spirit with a cold intelli-
a farewell letter to Castro, Guevara returned to Cuba in
gence and make painful decisions without flinch-
March 1966. Determined to remain no longer than neces-
ing. Our vanguard revolutionaries must make an
sary, Guevara launched his final guerrilla campaign that
ideal of this love of the people, of the most
fall, hoping to inspire a peasant revolution in Bolivia. His
sacred causes, and make it one and indivisible.
guerrillas fought their last battle on 8 October 1967
They cannot descent, with small doses of daily
against Bolivian army rangers working with the CIA.
affection, to the level where ordinary men put
Guevara was captured and executed the next day.
their love into practice.
Controversy surrounds Guevara’s legacy and revolu-
Che Guevara (1928–1967)
tionary methods, but his analysis of imperialism as a way
of understanding the past and present offers insight into
world history from the perspective of an internationalist,
were regrouping in Mexico City. Castro and Guevara rather than one committed to a nation-state. His ideas
connected immediately. The Cubans shared Guevara’s and martyrdom continue to inspire social justice move-
concern for the power wielded over Latin America by ments.While Guevara’s place in world history as a global
the United States and planned to do something about revolutionary is secure, his contribution as a social and
it. On 25 November 1956 eighty-one Cubans and political thinker continues to unfold.
Guevara launched their invasion of Cuba.
Eric L. Martin
Originally the group’s doctor, Guevara proved an ex-
cellent guerrilla fighter, earning the highest rank among See also Revolution—Cuba; Revolutions, Communist;
the rebels, and it was his column’s January 1958 entry Warfare—Post-Columbian Latin America
into Havana that marks the victory of the Cuban revo-
lutionary forces. During the war, Guevara established a
school for teaching guerrilla fighters to read, a printing Further Reading
press, and a radio station. He also met Aleida March, Anderson, J. L. (1997). Che Guevara: A revolutionary life. New York:
who became his second wife. He later published the first Grove Press.
Castañeda, J. G. (1998). Compañero: The life and death of Che Guevara
official history of the Cuban Revolution and popularized
(M. Castañeda,Trans.). New York: Vintage Books.
the foco theory of guerrilla war, which argued that small Gadea, H. (1973). Ernesto: A memoir of Che Guevara: An intimate
groups of committed individuals could create the condi- account of the making of a revolutionary by his first wife, Hilda Gadea.
London: W. H. Allen.
tions for revolution on a wider scale. Guevara, C. (1961). Guerrilla warfare (J. P. Morrat, Trans.). New York:
After the war, Guevara served as minister of industry Monthly Review Press.
Guevara, C. (1968). Reminiscences of the Cuban revolutionary war (V.
and head of the national bank.However,it was Guevara’s
Ortiz,Trans.). New York: Monthly Review Press.
numerous publications, speeches, and worldwide role as Guevara, C. (1969). Che: Selected works of Ernesto Guevara (Bonachea
the Cuban Revolution’s public face that made him a & Valdes, Ed.). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Guevara, C. (1972). Venceremos: The speeches and writings of Che Gue-
celebrity both hated and loved. The prototype for the vara (2nd ed., J. Gerassi, Ed.). New York: Macmillan Co.
“new man,” Guevara was motivated by moral incentives Guevara, C. (1995). The motorcycle diaries: A journey around South
America (A.Wright,Trans.). London: erso.
and hoped to eventually eliminate money. Encouraging
Pe’rez-Stable, M. (1993). The Cuban revolution: Origins, course, and
international cooperation to establish socialist societies, legacy. New York: Oxford University Press.