Kirwin Shaffer

I know what you're thinking: the name of this book makes it sound super boring and academic. Well, you're not wrong. Anarchist Cuba definitely took me more time to read than the average 235 page book. It's not that it wasn't good and informative, it's just that it's written like a doctorate.

It's been barely a month (I think) since I finished a book on Jewish Anarchist history in the US during the same period that this book took place, and the similarities are more than the differences. Once show more again I'm stunned by the amount of newspapers and school started and radical books written by anarchists in this time period. Not only was it happening in the US and Cuba, but throughout the world in the early 20th century. I know these things still exist, but it doesn't seem like they exist on the scale they did back then, nor does it seem like that's much of a goal for most anarchists I've been around. I'm not saying this is a good thing or bad thing, just that it's a difference between then and now.

These anarchists also had a lot of the same problematic tendencies as the ones I've read about in the past. Not that we don't have the same issues today, but it does seem like we've made improvements. The vast, vast majority of anarchists talked about in these books were men; non-men were either invisiblized or told to stay at home with the children. Their views on sex ranged from absolute prudes who didn't think sexuality was something that should even be acknowledged, to homophobic and slut-shaming weirdos.

The way society and the government reacted was also similar to the way they reacted in other countries during the same time period, and the way the still act to this day. The repression, the trying to divide white people and non-white people and Cuban born folks and immigrants, calling any kind of Black led uprising a race war, etc. Their tactics have not only stayed the same, but they continue to work to different degrees even in 2024.

The part of Anarchist Cuba that I liked the most was learning about the Anarcho-Naturists, a sect of anarchist I had never heard of. The were oddly anti-science, but also promoted healthy lifestyles as the most important tool in the revolution. Being close to nature, growing and eating healthy food, having community; it made me want to become a vegetarian again.

Overall, after reading this book I feel like I have a better grasp on anarchism in Cuba during this time period. I'd love to read something that talks about the fate of the anarchists once the commies took over. Anyone have any recommendations? show less