Mass organizations
The mass organizations occupy an important position in the Cuban political system . Virtually every Cuban is a member of one or more of them, they were important long before the institutionalization of the revolution and act as the editor of the country’s most important print media. Its function consists on the one hand in bundling and articulating the interests of social groups vis-à-vis the government, but on the other hand also in the implementation of government policy with the help of its organizational structure. Status: June 2019 .
The Communist Party of Cuba ( Partido Comunista de Cuba ), “martian and Marxist-Leninist, vanguard of the Cuban nation, is the highest leading force of society and the state, which the joint efforts to the high goal of socialism and progressing to communist society organizes and directs ”(Art. 5 of the Constitution). It is not really a mass organization, but sees itself as an avant-garde. The PCC is the only legal party in Cuba; all key positions in the state are held by its members. The highest body is the Politburo, which is elected by the Central Committee. A party congress takes place every five years to determine the political course of the country for the coming five years.
Founded: October 3, 1965
Number of Members: 600,000 (2019)
President: Raúl Castro Ruz (since 2011)
Publication: daily ” Granma “
Last Party: . Seventh Congress (16 to 19 April 2016)
Next Party: 2021
The Union of Young Communists ( Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas ) is the youth organization of the PCC and does not see itself as a mass organization, but as the avant-garde of Cuban youth. The UJC has several social programs aimed at youth, including the Youth Computer Club (JCC) and the People’s Rural Tourism Society. The highest body of the UJC is the National Office ( Buró Nacional ), every four years the Congress, which elects the National Office and determines the statutes of the association. At the international level, the UJC is affiliated with the World Federation of Democratic Youth ( WBDJ ).
Foundation: April 4, 1962
Number of members: 368,370 (2015)
Chairman: Susely Morfa González ( since 2016 )
Publication: Daily newspaper “ Juventud Rebelde ”
Last congress: Xth congress (18/19 July 2015)
Next congress: 2020
The Central Workers’ Headquarters in Cuba ( Central de Trabajadores de Cuba) is the umbrella organization of the Cuban trade unions, in which almost all Cuban workers are organized. Raúl Castro described his job in 1963 as follows: “Yesterday it was necessary for the unions to fight incessantly to gain certain advantages, to get a little more of the profits made by the magnates. Today the great task of the CTC and the trade unions is to increase production, recruit voluntary workers, tighten labor discipline, increase productivity and improve the quality of products ”. At its last congress, the CTC reaffirmed its commitment to increasing productivity as a prerequisite for solving the extensively discussed wage problem.
Foundation: November 28, 1961
Number of members: 3.29 million in 18 individual trade unions (2014)
Chairman: Ulises Guilarte (since 2014)
Publication: “ Trabajadores ” newspaper
Last congress: XXI. Congress (April 20 to 24, 2019)
Next congress: 2024
The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution ( Comités de Defensa de la Revolución ) are a nationwide neighborhood organization at the local level that is subordinate to the state and coordinates social tasks such as voluntary work, blood donations, care for the elderly, political discussions and debates as well as neighborhood help. Over 90% of the adult Cuban population belongs to one of the CDRs originally created for national defense. At their 8th Congress, the CDRs focused their work on the fight against corruption and “social lack of discipline”.
Foundation: September 28, 1960 Number of
members: 8.5 million (2017)
Chairman: Carlos Rafael Miranda Martínez (since 2011)
Last Congress: IX. Congress (September 27-28, 2018)
Next congress: 2023
The Federation of Cuban Women ( Federación de Mujeres Cubanas ) aims to promote equality and emancipation for Cuban women in all areas and levels of society. It was founded by Mrs. Raúl Castros Vilma Espín, who now also adorns the organization’s logo.
Foundation: August 23, 1960 Number of
members: 4.2 million (2012)
Chair: Teresa Amarelle Boué (since 2012)
Publication: “ Mujeres ” magazine
Last congress: IX. Congress (March 7/8, 2014)
Next congress: 2019
The Federation of University Students ( Federación Estudiantil Universitaria ) is a Cuban organization for all university students in the country. It is Cuba’s oldest mass organization and aims to represent the interests of Cuban students and to preserve revolutionary values at the university schools. At the transnational level, it is organized in the International Student Union ( UIS ).
Established: December 20, 1922 Number of
members: over 1 million (2013)
Chairman: Yosvani Montano Garrido (since 2011)
Publication: “ Alma Mater ” magazine
Last congress: 8th congress (June 12-14 , 2013)
Next congress: 2020
The Federation of Middle School Students ( Federación de Estudiantes de la Enseñanza Media ) is the Cuban student organization at the middle schools. She channels the interests of the Cuban students whose interests she represents. The aim of its establishment was to strengthen political work and opportunities to participate in schools.
Foundation: December 6, 1970 Number of
members: 300,000 (2014)
Chairman: Mirthia Julia Brossard (since 2011)
Last congress: XI. Congress (June 14, 2007)
Next congress: unknown
The pioneer organization José Martí ( Organización de Pioneros José Martí ) is the umbrella organization for the children and young people of Cuba. Its task is to instill in its members “an interest in learning, a love for the fatherland and all the peoples of the world”. It includes all children and adolescents from the first to the ninth grade. The organization provides the framework for numerous community activities and excursions. The Cuban pioneers have close organizational ties with the UJC.
Established: April 4, 1977 Number of
members: 1.4 million (2014)
Chairman: Aymara Guzmán Carrazana (since 2016)
Last congress: Fifth congress (April 3-4 , 2011)
Next congress: 2016
The Association of Fighters of the Cuban Revolution ( Asociación de Combatientes de la Revolución Cubana ) is the Cuban veterans’ association for supporters of the Cuban revolution and later foreign missions as well as internationalist missions. Its aim is to coordinate the work of the veterans in order to pass on their experiences to the younger generation and to organize actions on thanksgiving days.
Foundation: December 7, 1993
Number of members: 340,000 (2015)
Chairman: General José Antonio Carrillo Gómez (since 2015)
Last congress: IV National Conference (July 22, 2015)
Next congress: 2019
The National Organization of Smallholders ( Asociación Nacional de Agricultores Pequeños ) is the umbrella organization of Cuban smallholders and members of cooperatives and their families. It supports the farmers in their work and training and at the same time serves as their interest group. On an international level, the ANAP seeks contact with other smallholder associations in order to exchange know-how about sustainable agriculture and to disseminate it in Cuba.
Foundation: May 17, 1961
Number of members: 378,000 (2015)
Chairman: Rafael Ramón Santiesteban Pozo (since 2014)
Last Congress: XI. Congress (15 to 17 May 2015)
Next congress: 2020
The Union of Cuban Writers and Artists ( Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba ) is a cultural association open to all Cuban artists. Its aim is to promote and protect artistic creation and to defend the values of revolution and humanism. Its first chairman and founder was the Cuban poet Nicolas Guillén. The UNEAC organizes debates, artistic exchanges and advocates the promotion and maintenance of cultural institutions. The main theme of the last Congress was the fight against the erosion of revolutionary values.
Foundation: August 22, 1961
Chairman: Luis Morlote (since 2019)
Last Congress: IX. Congress (June 28 to 30, 2019)
Next congress: 2024
The Union of Cuban Journalists ( Unión de Periodistas de Cuba ) is the professional association of Cuban journalists. She represents the interests of the Cuban media representatives and does the educational and networking work for this profession. At the last congress, Cuban Vice President Díaz-Canel called for more critical reporting and promised better working conditions for journalists.
Foundation: July 15, 1963
Chairman: Ricardo Ronquillo Bello (since 2017)
Last Congress: Xth Congress (June 13/14, 2019)
Next Congress: 2024
Newsessentials Blog 
Posted on September 19, 2021
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