Draft:Integrated Revolutionary Organizations

The Integrated Revolutionary Organizations (spanish: Organizaciones Revolucionarias Integradas, ORI) was the shortlived revolutionary government of Cuba that was formed on July 26, 1961, as the result of a merger of the three last remaining revolutionary forces following the Cuban Revolution: the M-26-7 Movement, the Popular Socialist Party, and the Revolutionary Directorate. Purposed as an interim political entity until a true cohesive vanguard party could be established, the ORI was beset by sectarianism between 'old communists' Stalinists and 'new communists' Fidelistas. This internal conflict ultimately led to its dissolution and replacement by the United Party of the Socialist Revolution (PURS) in May 1963.

Following the successful overthrow of Fulgencio Batista in the 1959 Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro and his supporters sought to consolidate their newly-won power by establishing a party apparatus through which they could govern, as the loose anti-Batista coalition had quickly begun unraveling in the revolution's aftermath. Thus in early 1961, a new vanguard party began to form with its founding being finalized in July 26, 1961, through the merger of the M-26-7 Movement, the Revolutionary Directorate, and the old communist party - the Popular Socialist Party. Due to only the PSP having actual organizational experience and veteran cadres between the three, they were entrusted with leading the ORI - namely Anibal Escalante. By relying heavily on the PSP for their expertise, the ORI fell into PSP control as ex-PSP members was present in every branch of government. As part of PSP plans to solidfy 'old communist' control of the ORI, Escalante used his position of power to pack the party with his comrades, appointing ex-PSP members into key government posts while sidelining those from the M-26-7 and DR, effectively making the ORI become the new party apparatus of the PSP in all but name.

Intended by Fidel Castro as a transitional institution that would eventually lead to a unified party with the cooperation of all parties involved, PSP leader Anibal Escalante instead invisioned the ORI itself as the new party of the country and planned to integrate the Fidelistas into a Stalinist-run structure.

This power struggle culminated into a full confrontation between Fidel Castro and Anibal Escalante as the former realized they were threatening him and his followers' authority and influence. Consequently, Fidel Castro publicly denounced Escalante's actions and expelled him from the National Directorate, assuming leadership of the ORI for himself. Escalante was sent into exile to Czechoslovakia soon after.

Beset by sectarian infighting that was marked by the Escalante Affair, the ORI was eventually disbanded and reorganized into the United Party for the Socialist Revolution of Cuba (PURS) under the leadership of Fidel Castro. From 1962 through 1963, mass purges of the party membership was done, weakening PSP influence.

Organization Structure

The ORI was ran by a 25-person National Directorate (13 from M-26-7, 10 from the Popular Socialist Party, and 2 from the Revolutionary Directorate) which was in turn dominated by a 6-man strong Secretariat with Anibal Escalante serving as organizing Secretary.

On March 26, 1962, a new National Directorate was formed, shifting power away from the "old communists" and to the "new communists" with Anibal Escalante expelled from it. A new governing Secretariat was also formed, one full of Fidelistas with only ex-PSP member Blas Roca remaining. Fidel Castro served as First Secretary while Raul Castro served as Second Secretary.