Essay on Che Guevara

The development, maturation and influences on Che Guevara's ideology

by BEC

Background: During the 1950's and 1960's Che Guevara, an Argentinian, became a revolutionary martyr who's name, to this day, is recognised throughout the world. His ideas and theories on revolution have become gospel-like to his followers. As a child Che suffered from severe asthma, yet that did not deter him from venturing around the Latin American continent. Che was highly intelligent and he completed his doctors degree, normally a six year course, in three years. Che's initial aim in life was to make a breakthrough in medicine, in order to help people. Yet along the way, Che's plans were disrupted and he became a revolutionary guerrilla fighter. There are many questions as to why Che abandoned his medical studies and joined Fidel Castro's rebel army. In particular, what impact did philosophical studies and personal experience in Latin America have on Che Guevara's ideology and his theories from 1951 to 1959, when the rebel forces seized Havana, Cuba?

In an era when it was common practice to label those with anti-American ideas as a Communist, Ernesto Che Guevara persisted with his desire to liberate the Latin American continent through armed struggle. Whilst aspects of Che's ideology and motivation can be likened to aspects of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels', Manifesto of the Communist Party¹, there are three main factors that had an obvious and significant influence upon the way Che viewed the society in which he lived. The first formative influence was Che's family and upbringing. This was followed by his experiences during his travels of Latin America, particularly the events in Guatemala, and these led to the formation of his theories of social justice, which were influenced by the philosopher Alfred Adler.

There has been much discussion and speculation amongst historians as to the ideology and beliefs of Che Guevara. Donald Kagan believed that Che "...appeared to have been a devoted Marxist..."², John Gerassi was convinced that Che "was not a Communist in the most traditional sense of the word..."³ Fidel Castro went as far as to suggest in an interview with Gianni Mina, that "Che Guevara's Communism was never more than formal, even at the end."⁴ and Richard Gott believes that "Guevara had never been a Communist."⁵ This evident division in opinion can be explained, firstly, in terms of the individual historian's interpretation of the Marxist ideology, and secondly, by the purpose for which each of the historians were writing. From these differences in opinion, one must question what it was that suggested that Che was, or was not, Communist.

There are aspects of the Manifesto of the Communist Party, that are in essence anti-imperialistic, and thus during the 1950's and 1960's, were seen as deliberately anti-American. Fidel Castro believed Che to have had a "...Marxist education..." that he was "very studious...[and]...very rigorous in studying the questions of Marxism."⁶ Like many who are labelled Communist, there are aspects of Che's ideology that relate to aspects of the Manifesto, namely, the relationship between the oppressor and the oppressed, the open nature of the 'social reformer' and the revolution's ability to unite the people.

Marx and Engels suggested "every form of society has been based... on the antagonism of oppressing and oppressed classes."⁷ Due to the events he witnessed in Latin America, Che's main concern was the oppression of the people by those in power. In terms of Marx's theory, this relates to the relationship of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. In Latin America, this was the Yankee Imperialists⁸ against the people of Latin America, where "...oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one another, ..."⁹ Che's desire was to go to countries "where people were oppressed and help them make a revolution"¹⁰ in order to end oppression and liberate the people.

Communists "...openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions."¹¹ Che openly declared on many occasions that the end toimperialist exploitation relied on "the people's ability to free themselves from an oppressive government through guerrilla warfare."¹² Che also believed that once revolution was successful in one part of Latin America, it would act as a spark to ignite the continent into revolution, each nation in support of one another. In the same tone Marx and Engels wrote "Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things."¹³

However these are only three very definite ideas that Che shared with Marx and Engels, but, each has a very noticeable anti-American aspect. Hilda Gadea, Che's first wife, who had an extensive Marxist background, wrote in her memoirs that "because of his opinions Ernesto became known as a Communist."¹⁴ In the context of the era, and the feeling within the U.S.A., with McCarthyism and the fear of the former U.S.S.R., it was easier merely to label one as a Communist than to attempt to understand their difference in opinion and their ideals.

Che's ideology to this point can be described as a desire to liberate the people of Latin America from the clutches of Yankee Imperialism through armed revolution. He believed that once a revolution was successful the entire Latin American continent would follow. Che's purpose was "to fulfil the most sacred of duties: to fight imperialism wherever it may be..."¹⁵ to "fight for a better world, for all the poor and exploited..."¹⁶ But, what influenced a trained doctor to leave a stable career and fight for the social justice of the Latin Americans?

Firstly there is the influence of Che's family. During his childhood, Che had access to books in his parents' extensive library, which consisted of books on history, philosophy, psychology and art, with authors such as Marx, Engels, Lenin, Kropotkin and Sarmiento.¹⁷ Che's father, Don Ernesto, was a devout enemy of Nazism and fascism and was against anti-Semitism¹⁸, and like his son, Don Ernesto was also concerned with the welfare of the peasantry.¹⁹ His mother, Celia, took part in the Argentine feminist movement and is described as a free spirit, independent, and intelligent.²⁰ There was also a major incident amongst Guevara's ancestors involving an extensive court case with the Yankee Imperialists. The Guevara's believe they lost unjustly²¹; Don Ernesto suggested that it was this incident that produced "the heroic figure of Major Che, who gave his life for the freedom of America..."²²

During the early 1950's Che Guevara spent a great deal of time travelling throughout the Latin American continent, experiencing the hardships and oppression of the people where he saw cruelty, exploitation, misery and injustices. The country most noted for developing Che's ideology is Guatemala²³ and Hilda Gadea noted this extensively in her memoirs of Che. Richard Gott believes "the United States backed invasion of Guatemala was one of the major formative influences of Guevara's life."²⁴ Castro and Che's parents also believed that Che's experience in Guatemala were decisive.²⁵

By this stage Che had realised that an armed uprising was necessary in combating social injustice. The situation in Guatemala developed such that Che had an opportunity to trial his theory but "...when the North American [sponsored] invasion took place I tried to organise a group of young men to fight the adventurers. In Guatemala... it was necessary to resist, but hardly anyone wanted to do it."²⁶ However, the failure of this led Che to realise that there must be a belief amongst the people that a successful revolution will be able to change the present situation. In Guatemala, to this point, the people had supported the Jacobo Arbenz government, but after the failure of the attempted reforms, the Guatemalans had lost their faith.

At the time Arbenz proclaimed his agrarian reform 8 out of 10 people went without shoes and 7 out of 10 people were illiterate.²⁷ What Arbenz was attempting to do was lift the standard of living for the Guatemalan people and the Yankees intervened and prevented him. Not surprisingly Che made the following comment: "In reality, after the experience I went through... and the Guatemalan ending, not much was needed to convince me to join a revolution against a tyrant."²⁸ The tyrant of course being a puppet for the USA.

Throughout her memoirs, Hilda Gadea mentions that Che studied the works of prominent philosophers, such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Jean-Paul Sartre and Alfred Adler. It is the theories of Inferiority Complex and the Three Tasks of Life of Adler that best relate to Che's ideology. Through his studies, Che was able to relate them to the state of the Latin American people. And thus, he could also transcribe Adler's theories to his own theories on revolution and the armed struggle of the masses.

From the theories of Alfred Adler, Guevara became aware of the Inferiority Complex and Social Interest. Adler stated that "basic human motivation was to strive 'from a felt minus situation, from a feeling of inferiority towards superiority, perfection and totality.'"²⁹ The fundamentals of Adler's theory of Inferiority Complex, consist of Organ Inferiority, which is the source for the felt minus; Aggressive Drive, the struggle toward the felt plus; Masculine Protest, the assertion of manliness to gain greater competence, superiority and control- to be submissive is feminine; Superiority Striving, namely to achieve one's best, not necessarily to be better than others; Perfection Striving, the effort to improve realistically.

These ideas related to what Che saw in Latin America and may have formed or emphasised his idea that Latin America could only be liberated through an armed up rising, to move from their felt minus due to their oppression, to a felt plus, by taking control of their nation. Through an analysis of Adler's fundamental principles³⁰, their influence upon the way that Che shaped his theory for Latin America can be identified. Organ Inferiority as Che saw it in Latin America, was the oppression of the people by the Yankee Imperialists and their exploitation. The Aggressive Drive, was the uprising of the peasants and disgruntled workers, through revolution, to attack the existing structure. Adler noted that this stage may be recognised as anger. This can be seen amongst the Latin Americans, and it is this emotion that Che provoked in an attempt to motivate the masses. Masculine Protest in Che's ideology is interrelated with Aggression Drive. The people of Latin America must protest and be strong in order to take control of their nation, as stated in Adler's fundamentals. Superiority and Perfection Striving for Latin America, represented a successful revolutionary movement, the end of the old ways of Yankee exploitation, and the perfection of the New Man.³¹

Adler's theory of Social Interest, implied that each person should strive for a socially useful life.³² Adler's theory contained the ideas that: individuals are socially embedded; and there is an innate potential to live co-operatively with other people.³³ All of this came about through the Three Tasks of Life: Work, Love and Social Interaction.³⁴ In work, one should hold a socially useful job and that the division of labour organises co-operation, in order to provide the necessities and wants of society. Adler stated "Successful love affirms the worth of both partners"³⁵, thus love contributes to the social usefulness, the aim of each person. Social Interaction deals with a strong sense of social interest, this in turn prevents a narcissistic and self-centred attitude, thus heightening social usefulness.

There is evidence of agreement of these ideas within Che's ideology. The Three Tasks of Life in essence represent the basic principals of Che's beliefs. His intention was to create the New Man, such that each person would be socially useful in all aspects of his life. Through Che's study of Adler's theories he gained a clear perception of the three contributing factors, that essentially would assist in the evolution of the New Man. Ricardo Rojo noted shortly after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution "Guevara was beaming. His ideal seemed to have been achieved. A community of men and women drawn together by work, capable of performing it in a responsible manner, happily gathered together without false respect of sham differences."³⁶

Thus, Che's purpose in Latin America can best be described as a revolutionary with a pure commitment to humanity and to bringing social justice to the oppressed. From the similarities with the Manifesto it could be argued that "Guevaraism evolved from the first within a Marxist-Leninist framework"³⁷ in the period from 1951 to 1959. But it appears Che's first commitment was to "the struggle in Latin America against Yankee Imperialism"³⁸, liberation, and to the "...creation of a new man- fully integrated into his community."³⁹ In the lead up to the Cuban Revolution Che was a dedicated combatant against American Imperialism, but one must query the effect that the proceedings of the Revolution had upon Che's ideals. How, if at all, and why did Che change or adapt his ideology after the Revolution? What effect could this have had on the outcome of Che's liberating attempt in Bolivia? Furthermore, will there be a time when man is fully integrated into his society?

Appendix 1:
The workers on yerba mate were in the same situation of outcasts, forced labourers and the bosses held sway over their lives, could beat and even kill them with impunity. They worked for peanuts, or even, worse, for coupons with which they could buy inferior quality goods and produce at inflated prices in he company store. To make matters worse, the stores kept unlimited supplies of alcohol on hand. Any organised resistance on the part of the workers was cruelly suppressed by the plantation owners and the police.

The first thing I did was to eliminate the coupons and begin to pay the workers a straight salary. I also prohibited the sale of alcohol on the plantation. And I immediately won the hostility of the neighbouring planters. At first they thought I was insane, then, convinced I was right in thin my mind, began to label me a Communist. In my political inclinations at the time I was a radical, a supporter of the Radical Civil Alliance. This was a democratic party, headed by President Hipolito Yrigoyen, who while in power did much benefit for the country. He advocated an independent foreign policy and observed the constitution. The plantation owners threatened to take reprisals against me. At that time there was no law in Misones. The local authorities and the police were in the pockets of the planters.⁴⁰

Appendix 2:
As for my grandfather [Che's great-grandfather], the marriage made him the inheritor of Don Guillermo de Castro's properties, including the Grand Canyon. I'll point out right now that all this land and the Grand Canyon were then deceitfully annexed by the American authorities. Our family waged a long battle in court. The matter went to the Supreme Court which took the side of the authorities, and we were left with nothing but court expenses, which added up to what was at the time a fabulous sum...After all, if they had returned the land to us...maybe our family's destiny would have been altered and instead of producing the heroic figure of Major Che, who gave his life for the freedom of America, we would have turned out to be just one more rich and idle lounger to litter the landscape.⁴¹

Appendix 3:
On June 17, 1952, President Arbenz proclaimed the Guatemalan Agrarian reforms, these reforms were supported by most of the population that had a say, but it was bound to affect the economic privileges of less than 1000 landowners who owned half of the country at the time. By 1952, Arbenz's government had expropriated 4000 acres of the United Fruit Company (U.F.C.), the American banana monopoly. The actions of Arbenz prompted the US State Department to intervene and defend the U.F.C.'s position in Guatemala. It was the activities of the proceeding months that influenced and shaped Che's views on Latin American revolution.

The USA organised and funded a mercenary army of about 700 men, from countries such as Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia and Guatemala, to attack Guatemala. Castillo Armis was the head of these mercenaries, who invaded Guatemala on June 18, 1954. However they were unable to overpower the professional army, of about 7000 men, of President Arbenz. By this stage there was great tension, especially in the cities, between the government and the U.F.C., and there was a particularly anti-American feeling. After the mercenary invasion, fighting continued in the city, from the 18th until the 28th of June when President Arbenz resigned. The resignation of President Arbenz, allowed the Yankee Imperialists and the land owning monopolies to take over.⁴²

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1 K. Marx and F Engels- trans. Samuel Moore, 1888; Manifesto of the Communist Party; Foreign Languages Press, Peking, 1970.
2 D. Kagan; On the Origins of War and the Preservation of Peace; U.S.A., 1995. p452. Kagan is an American historian, who writes extensively about war.
3 J. Gerassi; Venceremos: The Speeches and Writings of Che Guevara; New York and London, 1968. p68. Gerassi has written extensively on the Latin American condition and is a professed supporter and admirer of Che's theories and motivations.
4 G. Mina- trans. Mary Todd; An Encounter with Fidel; Ocean Press, Australia, 1991. p70. Fidel Castro met Che Guevara in Mexico in 1955 whilst planning the Cuban invasion. They also fought together during the Cuban Revolution. Fidel Castro is the current President of Communist Cuba.
5 A.J.P. Taylor, EtAl; Richard Gott: Twentieth Century, Volume 18- Che Guevara; Purnell Reference Books, 1979. p2391. Gott is also an American historian.
6 Mina; op.cit; p217-218.
7 Marx and Engels; op.cit; p45
8 A common term used by the Latin Americans to refer to the United States and their intervention in the affairs of Latin America.
9 Marx and Engels; op.cit; p31
10 H Matthews; Castro: A Political Biography; Penguin, New York, 1970. p259
11 Marx and Engels; op.cit; p76
12 A. Sinclair; Guevara; Fontana, London, 1970. p37
13 Marx and Engels; op.cit; p76
14 H. Gadea; Ernesto: A Memoir of Che Guevara; Garden City, New York, 1972. p70.
15 Sinclair; op.cit; p74
16 Gadea; op.cit; p93
17 I Lavretsky- trans. A.B. Eklof; Ernesto Che Guevara; Progress Publishers, Moscow, 1985. p16 This work was compiled from extensive conversations with Che's father and family, as well as many that knew him. Kropotkin (1841-1921) was a Russian philosopher of revolution. Sarmiento (1811-1888) was a Latin American author of sociological-biographical studies.
18 Lavretsky; op.cit; p12-13
19 Lavretsky;op.cit; p15. See Appendix 1
20 ibid; p14
21 ibid; p10-11. See Appendix 2
22 loc.cit The reference here to America is to Latin America; most Latin Americans refer to their continent as America and the United States of America as the Yankees or the US.
23 See Appendix 3
24 Taylor, EtAl; R. Gott; op.cit; p2392
25 Castro:" (In Guatemala)...He witnessed the intervention of the United
States and suffered very much over all that It was something he carried within him." [Mina; op.cit; p219]; Che's parents: Che's first hand experience of "...the criminal intervention of imperialism in Guatemala...resolved to fight imperialism from then on..." [Gadea; op.cit; p164]
26 D. Hodges; The Legacy of Che Guevara: A Documentary Study; London, 1970. p14
27 R. Rojo- trans. Julian Casart; My Friend Che; Dial Press Inc., New York, 1968. p42
28 Hodges; op.cit; p14
29 S. Cloninger; Theories of Personality: Understanding Persons (Second Edition); Prentice Hall Inc., New Jersey, 1996. p106-107
30 ibid; p106-109
31 Name Che gave to the socialist man that he believed would emerge in Latin America after a successful armed revolution.
32 Cloninger; op.cit; p117-120
33 loc.cit
34 loc.cit
35 ibid; p120
36 Rojo; op.cit; p110
37 Hodges; op.cit; p15
38 Gadea; op.cit; p93
39 K.S. Karol- trans. Arnold Pomerans; Guerrillas in Power: The Course of the Cuban Revolution; Pelican Books, Great Britain, 1970. p393-394
40 Lavretsky; op.cit; p14-15
41 ibid; p10-11
42 Rojo;op.cit; 5