“Social rather than political factors were the main cause of the Cuban Revolution.” To what extent do you agree with this statement.

The question requires that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the assessment that social factors were more significant to the outbreak of the Cuban Revolution than political factors. Candidates may agree, partly agree, or disagree with the assessment. They may address the contribution of social causes to the outbreak of the revolution by referring to the grievances of the peasantry and urban workers and consider issues such as shortage of land, poor working and living conditions and limited access to healthcare, housing and education. Candidates may challenge the statement and claim that political causes played a more significant role in the revolution. In doing so, they may gauge the contributions of the rising opposition to Batista and his ineffective response, the role of political parties and of Fidel Castro. Candidates may, alternatively, argue that other factors played a more substantial role. While this is acceptable, candidates must focus on the importance or otherwise of the named issues.