José Marti

Mentor of the Cuban Revolution

John M. Kirk

In 1953, Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro stated that the “intellectual author” of his revolution was the nineteenth-century writer and revolutionary José Martí. An advocate of social justice, economic democracy and anti-imperialism, Martí wrote extensively about the future of a “Cuba libre,” freed from Spain’s rule, and is celebrated as one of Latin America’s most important thinkers. Based on a detailed analysis of the twenty-five volumes of his complete works, José Martí studies the nature of this Cuban writer/revolutionary and examines the depth and breadth of Martí’s thought on society, economics, politics and morality. This book also investigates the uses and abuses of Martí as a political symbol by those who claim to espouse his ideas. In this insightful, balanced analysis, John M. Kirk argues that Martí’s political thought was remarkably advanced — and still holds tremendous relevance for the modern era.

Contents

The Importance of Martí in Cuba • Origins of a Political Career • Evolution of Sociopolitical Thought • Political System • Moral Foundation • Social Structure • Economic Politics • Conclusion • References • Index

About the Author

JOHN M. KIRK is professor of Latin American studies at Dalhousie University.