oa Socialisme onder de zon

Socialism under the sun. Cuba Sympathizers in the Netherlands during the 1960s

The Cuba solidarity movement is under-represented in Dutch historiography concerning the 1960s. Based on new primary sources, this article argues that this movement deserves more scholarly attention. Although small in size, the Cuba movement, mostly consisting of left-wing intellectuals and students, sheds light on two larger research themes. First, for Dutch Cuba sympathizers the so-called Third World was not just a screen onto which they could project their own preoccupations with the Western system, culture, or authority. On the contrary, in response to the negative image of Cuba and the US embargo against the Caribbean Island, they sincerely and continuously attempted to reveal the favorable developments following the Cuban revolution. By doing this, they hoped that the Dutch public would give the Cuban revolution a chance, as well as the Third World in general. Second, this article demonstrates the agency of Third World regimes in Western countries during the Sixties. By actively searching for potential Dutch sympathizers and inviting them to Cuba, the regime had a huge inspirational and motivational impact on the Cuba solidarity movement which was crucial for its continued existence. Moreover, it is argued that Cuban diplomatic efforts not only contributed to political unrest and protest around 1968, but were also at the root of the Dutch-Cuban aid relationship between 1973 and 1977.