Evaluate the contribution of social and cultural policies to Fidel Castro’s rule to 1980.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of Castro’s rule as indicated in the specified timeframe. Policies may extend beyond the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may offer equal coverage of social and cultural policies, or they may prioritize their discussion of one of them. However, both will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to the Literacy Campaign (1961) and other policies to improve access to education. They may discuss health programmes that reduced infant mortality and/or policies towards women. Cultural policies applied propaganda to exaggerate the success of programmes and promote nationalism, reflecting the spirit of the revolution. Other relevant factors, for example the role of the secret police to control dissent, may be referred to, but with a focus on the issue in the question.

The question required candidates to make an appraisal of Castro’s rule to 1980, evaluating the contribution of social and cultural policies. The question was rather popular and considerable knowledge was demonstrated as to Castro’s social and cultural policies. However, many candidates had difficulty distinguishing social from cultural policy and failed to understand the demand as to how the policies contributed to Castro’s lengthy stay in power.