The first part of this paper uses a historic perspective as a starting point for discussion of the factors that, in the author's opinion, contributed to Fidel Castro's rise to power in 1959. The focus of the historic analysis will be on those events that shaped Cuban culture and affected Cuba's political development from 1492 to 1898. The second part of the paper covers the political and socio-economic events leading to Castro's ascension to power. Part Three reviews the theories purported to have contributed to the success of "Castroism" and Part Four analyzes the factors that have...