How did Fidel Castro’s revolution change Cuba’s political system?

Fidel Castro’s revolution fundamentally transformed Cuba from a republic into a socialist state, establishing a political system characterized by centralized control and single-party rule.123

Following the 1959 overthrow of Fulgencio Batista, the new regime dismantled existing political institutions, including former labor unions and political parties, and replaced them with new structures modeled after Soviet-bloc countries. The government nationalized private property and industries, shifting the nation toward a centrally planned economy.214

The political landscape was solidified by the formation of the Communist Party of Cuba, which became the sole legal political entity under the 1976 constitution. This constitution defined the party as the organized vanguard of the nation, a status reaffirmed in subsequent revisions. Under this system, the government operates as a unitary socialist republic, with the Politburo setting policy for both the party and the state. For nearly five decades, Fidel Castro served as the primary leader, holding roles as head of state, head of government, and commander in chief of the armed forces, before eventually passing leadership to his brother, Raúl Castro.531