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Was there an “August Mistake”? How to assess the role of the Communist Party of Cuba and the Comintern in the anti-Machado revolution of 1933
 
PIIS0044748X0026848-1-1
DOI10.31857/S0044748X0026848-1
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Victor Jeifets 
Affiliation: Saint Petersburg State University
Address: Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg
Lazar Jeifets
Affiliation:
Saint Petersburg State University
Saint-Petersburg University of Aerospace University
Address: Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg
Journal nameLatin America
EditionIssue 8
Pages45-66
Abstract

The article examines the little–studied nature of relations between the III International, its Caribbean Bureau and the Communist Party of Cuba in connection with the so-called "August mistake" - the attitude taken by the Cuban section of the Comintern during the anti-Machado revolution of 1933. The role of the informal leader of the party Ruben Martinez Villena is analyzed and the evolution of assessments of his activities during this period by the international Communist Party is shown. While originally as the Comintern emissaries as also the structures of the Executive Committee of the Comintern condemned sharply Martinez Villena’s activities during the overthrow of the dictatorship of G.Machado, finally this attitude was shifting and Moscow was ready to come to terms with him on condition of admitting a “mistake”. Later, as the authors showed, Moscow partially (but not publicly) came to conclusion that it was wrong to bet on the seizure of power in Cuba by the forces of exclusively communists and their affiliated structures. This recognition was part of the Comintern's “historic turn” to the policy of the Popular Front, which in Cuba meant the transition of the Communist Party to a broad alliance. This alliance laid the foundations for the subsequent expansion of communist influence.

Keywords“The August Mistake”, Cuban Revolution of 1933, the Communist Party, PCC Comintern
AcknowledgmentThe research was carried out thanks to financial support of the Russian Scientific Fund, grant № 19-18-00305, “The Comintern in Latin America: historical traditions and political processes”.
Received27.04.2023
Publication date24.08.2023
Number of characters56571
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