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communist country are often more of a tool for propaganda in the
international ideological struggle than a reflection of reality,
according to Mesa-Lago (1969). The problem of living within the
shadows of a hostile superpower has exacerbated this problem for
the current Cuban government (Fuerst, 1981).
Any review of relevant literature on Cuba, or any collection of
interview data must be undertaken and accepted with consideration for
the above constraints.
Cultural Change
In reviewing the changes in political ideology in Cuba, Montaner
(1981) finds that since the Revolution, "there has been a veritable
bombardment of eastern European and Oriental culture" (p. 129),
completely foreign to the natural temperament and character of the
Cuban people. Two factors, he writes, have caused this deviation
from the previous Latin American traditions which Cuba has held:
a wish to imitate the Soviet bloc and a desire to erase from Cuban
memory all traces of their previous sociocultural surroundings (p. 130).
Montaner's observations can be confirmed, in part, by listening
to Cuban radio. The interactions of the communist bloc countries are
lauded and Russian language instruction is provided via the air waves.
Most Cuban publications include the date of publication and a time
marker such as: 1974, "Year of the XV Anniversary"; 1976, "Year of
the XX Anniversary of Granma"; or 1977, "Year of the Institutionali
zation.