Fidel's Ethics of Violence The Moral Dimension of the Political Thought of Fi

by Jayatilleka, Dayan

• ISBN13: 9780745326962
• ISBN10: 074532696X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-09-20
• Publisher: PLUTO PRESS (UK)

Summary

Fidel Castro's most original contribution to revolutionary and radical thought has been his development of an explicit ethical position on one of the most controversial issues of our time: violence. This book explores the evolution of Castro's political thinking -- and in particular how he philosophically reconciles violence, political power and morality.This book makes a timely intervention into the question of Castro's historical role and contribution. The author argues that Castro's doctrine of armed struggle is the logical development of his idea of the ethical liberation fighter. At its core is an unremitting emphasis on the ethical use of violence.

Author Biography

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka is a political analyst and commentator, and a former underground revolutionary activist. He is Senior Lecturer at the Department of Politics and Public Policy at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He is also Sri Lanka's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Preface	p. ix
Background
Introduction	p. 3
The Ethics of Violence	p. 13
Comparative Historical Perspective	p. 27
History of Fidelismo as Ethos
Introduction	p. 63
Evolution of Castro's Ethics of Liberation	p. 64
Defending the Revolutionary Regime	p. 92
Analysis
Introduction	p. 115
The Moral High Ground	p. 116
Reflections and Conclusion
Introduction	p. 165
The Achievement of Synthesis	p. 166
The Contemporary Relevance of Castro	p. 183
A Personal Postscript	p. 197
Notes to the Text	p. 201
Select Bibliography	p. 223
Index	p. 226
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