Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Vázquez, Miguel Ángel
Abstract
This paper argues that Kim Il-Sung of North Korea and Fidel Castro of Cuba established personality cults of differing degrees of intensity due to the relative degrees of historical and political isolation present in each state. Although both states followed a similar pattern of dominance, resentment, nationalism, and socialism in their recent histories, their differing overall histories dictated the intensity of their leaders' personality cults. Korea's long history of self-imposed isolationism in combination with xenophobia was continued in Kim's self-reliance ideology and allowed for a fanatical personality cult to develop. Cuba's only experience with isolation was that imposed by the United States through its embargoes, and the resulting hostility between Cuba and the United States actually helped legitimize Castro's regime and personality cult.
Recommended Citation
Trifoi, Bianca, ""Los pueblos, vibrantes y triunfantes en un hombre": Cultos a la personalidad y aislamiento en Corea del Norte y Cuba" (2015). Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019. 216.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_honors_2/216
Extent
70 p.
Identifier
FA00003659
Comments
Includes bibliography.