Interrogations - anno III - n. 7 - giugno 1976

StructuresofPowerinCuba 1 SamDolgoff (*) IN THE FIRST phase of authorltarian revolutions, the revolutionary élite (sometimes commanded by a persona! dictator) seizes and consolidates power on the pretext that it is acting in the «name of the people., But in order to govern the country and carry out the decrees of the leadership, every regime must eventually institutionalize its power by creating a permanent, legally established bureaucratie administrative apparatus. To implement institutionalization, Castro, in 1970, launched the reorganization of his government and the drafting of a new constitution, proclaiming that the Revolution had now corne of age and the people could now be trusted to more selfrule. Castro promised the enactment of measures to expedite the decentralization of his administration; expand local autonomy and worker's self-management of industry; democratize the mass organizations and create new state agencies designed to encourage more participation or the people in local and national affairs. (We list the more important changes and our comments under appropriate headings.) Reorganlzatlon of the Governmental Structure IN 1973 the top governmental structure was reorganized in the following manner: 1) The division or the government into legislative, executivt:, and judicial departments was rejected as «bourgeois,. The functions of the three branches are (•) A 74 year old retired house painter. Has for over 50 years been active in the American labor and libertarian movements. Books: Bakunin on Anarchy; The Anarchtst Collectives in the Spantsh Revolutton (1936-1939). The Cuban Revolution: an Anarchtst Perspective is to be published this year. He is now preparing a book on the History"4,nd Problems of the Amertcan Labor Movement. 47

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